Victory over the Netherlands was just a stroll on a very hot Lincoln day for Australia at Lincoln Green today.

The defending world champions romped home by 10 wickets.

Conditions throughout the CricInfo Women's World Cup have been good but today was easily the hottest with temperatures up to 32 degrees celsius.

It was just as well the game was a short one.

Australia, facing a semi-final with South Africa on Monday was only required to score 108 to win the game, a goal it managed in 23.5 overs.

The game counted for nothing - the Netherlands were already last in the competition and Australia had been in such commanding form that it was not going to put a foot astray.

But it did allow the Australian captain Belinda Clark to gain some useful batting time before the final. Regarded as one of the world's premier batsmen before the tournament she has not been the force expected during the event.

In six games before today she had scored 137 with a highest score of 49 not out. She offered a chance to Netherlands wicket-keeper Rowan Milburn when on 21.

She was unperturbed however, and built towards a confidence-boosting 48 not out to take into the Monday game with South Africa.

Australian coach John Harmer was delighted for his skipper.

"I was very happy to see Belinda getting runs again today. She's had two not outs in her last two innings and I was quite pleased with her last 20 today. She was hitting over the top and using her feet," he said.

Keightley continued her fine tournament to record her third half-century of the tournament, coming off 70 balls. She finished the game having 284 tournament runs now at an average of 71.0.

The Netherlands did have the satisfaction of scoring 107/7 in its 50 overs. Pauline te Beest scored a fine 42. She played some attacking shots before being caught on the mid-wicket fence.

The game was a chance for the lesser lights in the Australian side to get a bowl and Avril Fahey had cause for satisfaction by taking 3-19 in eight overs. Charmaine Mason was too good for the Dutch before leaving the field with a leg strain.

She took 1-4 from seven overs at the top of the Netherlands innings.

It wasn't an entirely convincing performance in the field by Australia, but then that was just what coach Harmer wanted. It gives him something to work on before Monday's match.

© CricInfo