Johannesburg, Mar 23: India`s World Cup dreams were shattered by a savage batting assault from holders Australia who reaffirmed their status as the best one-day side with a comprehensive victory in the final here today for a record third title. Ricky Ponting led his side to a 125-run victory with a blazing captain`s knock of 140 not out that propelled Australia to its biggest-ever one-day score, a virtually unassailable total of 359 for two, also the highest in any World Cup final. The 1983 champions India, handicapped with the first-over dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar, fought hard till the 40th over but managed only 234 runs. Virender Sehwag kept India in the hunt for some time with a sparkling innings of 82 but the target proved too much. The Indian pace attack, which had been highly impressive in this tournament, let the team down in the most important match after Sourav Ganguly had elected to field on a pitch that offered substantial help to the seamers. The trio of Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra, who have a combined tally of 49 wickets in this tournament, were together plundered for 211 runs from 27 overs without any success.

Apart from Ponting, who smashed eight sixes and four fours in his 121-ball knock, Damien Martyn and Adam Gilchrist also helped themselves to fine half-centuries. Martyn, who was associated in a record 234-run unbeaten partnership with Ponting, made 88 not out while Gilchrist scored 57 from just 48 balls.

Matthew Hayden, who made 37, was the only batsman not to have registered a half-century in Australia`s run-feast which saw the team emulating West Indies in winning back to back World Cup titles.

Australia remained unbeaten in this tournament, an unprecedented achievement, and extended their one-day winning streak to 17.

Bureau Report