CENTURION (South Africa), Feb 15: Australia, led by superb fast bowling from Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee, hammered India by nine wickets with more than half their overs to spare in a virtually one-sided World Cup Group ‘A’ fixture on Saturday.

Man-of-the-Match Gillespie produced one of the most economical and effective spells in World Cup history as he took three for 13 from 10 overs while Lee bowled with awesome pace to capture three for 36.

They helped skittle India for 125, their lowest-ever World Cup total and the lowest score in 16 One-day Internationals at Centurion Park, before openers Adam Gilchrist (48) and Matthew Hayden (45 not out) helped complete the rout by adding 100 in 17 overs.

The match, which ended after 22.2 overs of the Australian reply, was an anti-climax for the large crowd at Centurion, who had come in the hope of some entertainment from India’s highly-rated batting line-up.

Instead, what they got was world-class fast bowling from Lee and Gillespie, backed up by Glenn McGrath (one for 23), performances that justified Australia’s decision to leave out all-rounder Ian Harvey and play just four specialist bowlers.

The pace bowling trio effectively wrecked the match as a contest.

The victory also underlined Australia’s status as favourites to retain the trophy they won in England in 1999.

Ricky Ponting’s side look sure to end the group stages topping Group ‘A’, with their remaining matches against two minor sides, Holland and Namibia, plus Zimbabwe and England.

Ponting had lost the toss but that was just about the last thing that went wrong for him as he decided to give the new ball to Lee ahead of Gillespie.

Lee’s opening burst of two for 17 in six overs removed an out-of-sorts Saurav Ganguly (9) and Virender Sehwag, both falling to firm-footed wafts outside the off-stump.

When Lee was rested, Gillespie replaced him and struck immediately, forcing Rahul Dravid to play his first ball onto his stumps after making a single off 23 deliveries.

By the end of Gillespie’s spell, bowled without a break, only fellow Australian Gary Gilmour, with six for 14 against England at Headingley in 1975, had more economical figures against major opposition in the World Cup.

With McGrath in equally miserly form at the other end, India subsided from 41 for one in the eighth over to 50 for five ten overs later.

Only Sachin Tendulkar, with 36, proved equal to the challenge presented by the Australian fast bowlers, but even he struggled and it took him over two hours to score those runs before Gillespie trapped him with a ball that cut back and kept low.

There was late resistance from Anil Kumble (16 not out) and Harbhajan Singh (28) as they added 40 for the eighth wicket but Australia’s brilliance was summed up by the way Darren Lehmann ran out last man Javagal Srinath with a direct hit from cover.

India were dismissed in 41.4 overs.

Australia looked to be heading for only their third 10-wicket win in one-dayers before Gilchrist was stumped by Dravid off Kumble after an entertaining and ruthless 60-ball stay including six fours.

His dismissal let in Ponting (24 not out), who had the satisfaction of hammering Harbhajan Singh for four to complete the win two hours ahead of the scheduled finish time, completing another very satisfactory day at the office for Australia.