Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson shine as Australia hand England a pasting.

(From Guardian Unlimited)

England's batting refrain throughout this Champions Trophy had been that they would never die wondering and, as they renewed acquaintances with Australia at the semi-final stagetonight, they were true to their word. They died in the full knowledge that Australia's stranglehold remained as unremitting as ever.

England's 257 was respectable, nothing more, on a true, pacy surface and it was unerringly chased down by Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson, both of whom made hundreds in a nine-wicket win achieved with 8.1 overs to spare. Their unbroken stand of 252 in 40 overs was an Australian second-wicket record.

Ponting, a defeated Ashes captain, has since …