Clark steers Australia to final

Australia 159 for 5 (Clark 62) defeated England 158 by five wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

An authoritative 62 from Belinda Clark eased Australia into the finals of the Women's World Cup, as they completed a straightforward five-wicket victory against their arch-rivals England at Sedgar's Park. At Centurion on Sunday they will either face India, in a repeat of the last men's final, or New Zealand, in a repeat of the last women's final.

Either way, you would not bet against them retaining their title after this assured victory, inspired by the indomitable Clark, who won the toss and chose to bowl first, then wrapped up the match with the day's highest score. The early damage was done by Cathryn Fitzpatrick's triple strike, which left England's top order in tatters at 21 for 3 and put paid to any hopes of a decent total. They went on to make 158, which a dominant Australia - who are still undefeated - had no difficulty knocking off.

Arran Brindle and Clare Connor lifted England from their early nadir, but Connor's dismissal precipitated another mini-collapse and England were in serious trouble at 106 for 8. Clare Taylor weaved some magic in the closing overs, hitting 29 - her highest one-day total - but Australia were not too stretched chasing three an over.

The fearsome Fitzpatrick was immediately on the button, knocking over Laura Newton's stumps with one which jagged back, and she added the in-form Claire Taylor soon after, for a duck, inducing the edge through to a diving Julia Price, who threw herself to the right to pluck a fantastic catch.

Charlotte Edwards was next to go. She had rattled up 13 from 23 balls and was looking settled until she, too, edged one which nipped back and held its line. England had much work to do: Connor (35) and Brindle (32) answered the call, rebuilding the innings, Connor hitting her highest total against Australia in 18 matches.

But when they were both shot out, followed by Jenny Gunn and Nicki Shaw, England were back on the slide: they had lost four wickets for 14 runs (106 for 8). Taylor and Isa Guha (13) stabilised the innings later on but Australia bowled with penetration and deserved their wickets.

And their batsmen stood firm, Clark sharing two stands of 45 for the second and third wicket to set up the victory: Karen Rolton (14) and Mel Jones (15) proved more than worthy sidekicks as they strode to an inevitable victory. England's attack lacked pace, venom and the injured Lucy Pearson. Their fielding, as always, was something to behold, and Brindle pulled off two fine run-outs, but that alone was never going to be enough to derail the Australian juggernaut.

Laura Newton b Fitzpatrick 4 (16 for 1)
Chopped inswinger on to her off-stumps.

Claire Taylor c Price b Fitzpatrick 0 (20 for 2)
Keeper dived wide to right for stunning one-handed catch.

Charlotte Edwards c Price b Fitzpatrick 13 (21 for 3)
Held its line to find finest of edges.

Clare Connor lbw b Hayes 35 (80 for 4)
Aiming through midwicket, trapped plumb in front.

Arran Brindle st Price b Nitschke 32 (91 for 5)
Came down the track and missed the ball completely for an easy stumping.

Jenny Gunn b Sthalekar 4 (96 for 6)
Ball turned slightly to hit leg-stump.

Nicki Shaw c Price b Nitschke 3 (96 for 7)
Edged through to keeper who took another impressive catch.

Jane Smit lbw Rolton (106 for 8)
Missed the ball completely.

Isa Guha b Rolton 13 (131 for 9)
Attempted to hoick a straight bowl over midwicket.

Clare Taylor b Liddell 29 (158)
Gave herself plenty of room, missed, and the ball went on to hit leg stump.

Lisa Keightley run out (Brindle) 4 (12 for 1)
Push to cover-point, caught two feet short by direct hit

Karen Rolton run out (Brindle) 14 (47 for 2)
Direct hit from point - out by a mile

Mel Jones b Connor 15 (92 for 3)
Swung and missed at a straight one

Belinda Clark c & b Guha 62 (123 for 4)
Stopped on shot and spooned back

Lisa Sthalekar run out (Gunn) 29 (143 for 5)
Direct hit from fine-leg boundary