"Peaking nicely" and history firmly behind them, five-time champions Australia are the team to beat in the World Cup, says New Zealand pacer Trent Boult.
In a repeat of 2015 final between the trans-Tasman rivals, pace spearhead Boult's historic hat-trick went in vain as Mitchell Starc's (5/26) brilliant five-for guided the defending champions to a convincing 86-run win at the Lord's here on Saturday.
With his swinging full-pitched deliveries, Boult sent back the well-settled Usman Khawaja (88 off 129 balls), Starc and Jason Behrendorff, while giving away just two runs in the last over to become the first Kiwi to grab a hat-trick in the World Cup.
But his efforts proved futile as New Zealand were shot out for 157.
By virtue of the win, Australia, who are already through to the semifinals, have consolidated their position at the top with 14 points from eight games.
"Australia turn up for World Cups. They have a good record in them and they're peaking nicely. They produced the complete performance and they were too good for us," said Boult, who returned with figures of 4 for 51.
"There are some quality sides here but it's all about timing in my opinion and Australia are performing well, there's only a couple of weeks left and they're the ones to beat."
Boult was effusive in his praise for pace counterpart Starc, the tournament's
"It's a pretty simple game plan. I wanted to disturb the woodwork and it was nice to see the stumps light up. It was a bit of entertainment for the crowd."