Cricket World Cup 2015: Australia thrash Scotland in last group game

Mitchell Starc is the leading wicket taker in this World Cup, with 16 at an average of 6.5

Australia raced to a seven-wicket win and condemned Scotland to a sixth straight defeat in the final World Cup Pool A game.

Mitchell Starc took 4-13 and Pat Cummins 3-42 to bowl Scotland out for 130 in 25.4 overs in Hobart.

Michael Clarke, promoted up the order, hit 47 as Australia won with 34.4 overs to spare after a 90-minute rain delay.

They face a quarter-final against Pakistan or Ireland, who meet on Sunday, in Adelaide on 20 March.

Australia captain Clarke said: "We had one little hiccup against New Zealand, but now it's the knockout stages.

"We need to play at our best and I think if we do, we can win."

Scotland finished bottom of the group, having extended their unwanted record of World Cup games without a win to 14 since their debut in 1999.

But captain Preston Mommsen said: "We take a huge amount of positives from the past six games, and we leave the World Cup a better team."

The batting problems which have undermined this campaign - Scotland have been bowled out in all but one game - were evident again as five players made ducks.

Matt Machan's 40 off 35 balls was the height of Scottish resistance as Australia, the pre-tournament favourites, exploited helpful seam-bowling conditions after Clarke won the toss at the Bellerive Oval.

The brilliant Starc bookended a miserable Scotland innings, removing openers Kyle Coetzer and Calum MacLeod in his first four overs and cleaning up Josh Davey and Iain Wardlaw in three balls with the sort of yorkers which are becoming his trademark.

In between, Cummins accounted for Machan, Matthew Cross and Rob Taylor, and Scotland were grateful for a ninth-wicket stand of 35 between Josh Davey and Michael Leask.

Australia's rapid pursuit was initiated by Aaron Finch, who hit 20 off 10 balls, while Clarke weighed in with seven fours and two sixes he sought time at the crease before the knockout stages.

Although the hosts failed to clinch victory before the rain which interrupted the Scotland innings returned, James Faulkner and David Warner needed only 12 balls to plunder the remaining 39 runs when play resumed.

Listen to highlights from Test Match Special's and 5 live Sport's 2015 World Cup coverage.

Scotland became the first side to have five ducks in an innings twice in a World Cup

James Faulkner catches Matt Machan, one of only four Scotland batsmen to reach double figures

Michael Clarke had batted only twice in the tournament before making a run-a-ball 47 against Scotland

David Warner flayed 21 not out off six balls as Australia wrapped up victory in 15.2 overs