Cricket: Australia ruthlessly swept aside South Africa to march relentlessly to a fourth successive World Cup final.
Having swept aside all opponents - including final opponents Sri Lanka - on their route to the last four, Australia were expected to be finally given a competitive test on the slow pitch at the Beausejour Stadium.
But instead of being stretched by the Proteas, the team nearest to them in the ICC world rankings, Australia simply romped to a seven-wicket victory with 18.3 overs remaining despite losing Adam Gilchrist in the second over of their reply.
The comprehensive triumph extends their unbeaten World Cup run to a staggering 28 matches stretching back to 1999.
It would also have to go down as one of their easier outings during that unbeaten run as they broke the back of South Africa's challenge inside the first 10 overs of their innings when the Proteas slumped to 27 for five.
Deciding to bat first in an attempt to put Australia under pressure after winning the toss, South Africa's reputation as "chokers" returned to haunt them as their top order capitulated against the veteran seamer Glenn McGrath and the pace and hostility of Shaun Tait.
Ever since 1999, when South Africa froze in the tied semi-final and allowed Australia to advance into the Lord's final, they have struggled to shrug off a belief they panic on the big occasion.
They did little to dispel that from the moment left-arm seamer Nathan Bracken bowled captain Graeme Smith as he advanced down the wicket to the 15th ball of the day.
Jacques Kallis followed in similar fashion and was bowled by 37-year-old McGrath three overs later and the die had been cast.
Tait, bristling with aggression, induced opener AB de Villiers into a tentative prod behind but Sri Lanka's downfall was effectively sealed in the next over when McGrath added yet another record to his illustrious career.
McGrath claimed two wickets off successive balls with Ashwell Prince edging behind and Mark Boucher driving to Matthew Hayden at first slip to take his tally for the tournament to 25 and eclipsing the record number of wickets for a World Cup of 23 set by Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas four years ago.
Having watched the master at work, 24-year-old Tait delivered the best performance of his brief one-day international career to ensure South Africa were not able to fight back from their predicament.
He was intelligently restored to the attack by captain Ricky Ponting to end a promising 60-run sixth wicket stand with Herschelle Gibbs edging his fourth delivery behind after he had teamed up successfully with Justin Kemp.
All-rounder Kemp was largely responsible for preventing South Africa recording a humiliating total and successfully guided the tail with an unbeaten 49, but could not prevent his side recording their lowest ever World Cup score.
It was not the type of innings for which the big-hitting Kemp is famous, but it was just as useful and at least enabled South Africa to get into three figures.
He allowed his attacking instincts to get the better of him occasionally, notably when he pulled Shane Watson over midwicket for six, but was otherwise restrained during his unbeaten innings spanning 33 overs.
He was kept company by Andre Nel for 11 overs before Tait once again returned and induced South Africa's fiery fast bowler into trying an uppercut which was caught at cover.
Kemp was also dropped on 48 by Tait at long on, but his half-century was still denied him with Watson wrapping up the innings with 6.1 overs remaining by bowling last man Charl Langeveldt.
Needing an early breakthrough to stand any chance of upsetting the odds, South Africa were given it with Langeveldt swinging his first ball through Gilchrist's defences.
But by the time Nel struck seven overs later to remove Ponting - who had progressed almost without effort to 22 off 25 balls - bowled playing across the line, Australia's winning momentum had been restored.
Michael Clarke successfully guided his side home with an unbeaten 60 off 86 balls and shared a 66-run stand with opener Matthew Hayden, who fell with just 40 runs needing when Smith ran back from mid-on to take a catch off Shaun Pollock.
Australia's triumph was completed with Andrew Symonds racing to an unbeaten 18 off 16 balls, including a four off to seal the match, and leave Sri Lanka facing the daunting task of finding ways to halt their unstoppable juggernaut in Saturday's Kensington Oval final.