Ireland's Niall O'Brien walks off the field after he was bowled by Australia's Shaun Tait (back) during their Super Eights match in Bridgetown on Friday. - Reuters

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP):

IRELAND HAD another eye-opening experience against Australia's Shaun Tait.

"We've never faced anyone bowling at the speed of 150 kilometres per hour (93 mph), it was a different experience from what we're accustomed to," said Ireland captain Trent Johnston, whose team was bundled out for 91 in 30 overs on Friday.

Australia then blasted 92 in 12.2 overs for the loss of opener Adam Gilchrist to post their seventh successive win in this World Cup.

Dating to midway through the 1999 tournament, Australia have stretched their World Cup unbeaten streak to 25 matches that include titles in 1999 and 2003.

Australia are chasing an unprecedented third straight championship.

Ireland were swept aside by the world's top-ranked team, who stormed into the semi-finals without being seriously challenged.

"We were outclassed by a superior team," Johnston said. "We went out to set ourselves to be competitive today, but it didn't work out against a team that's been the best in the world for 10 years.

"Our top order did not come to the party. If the top four batsmen get two runs between them we're always going to struggle. We finished with the ninth- worst World Cup total - we were ticking off the scores sitting in the dressingroom."

Johnston looked for the silver lining of having faced Tait's thunderbolts.

"I hope the batsmen would have learnt something from this exposure to Tait's speed, which was backed by top-class pace bowlers Glenn McGrath and Stuart Clark," said Johnson, reminding his batsmen that they would now have to face Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga in the Super Eights.

"People said we'll struggle against fast bowling, but I think we faced quick bowling quite well until today," he said.

Johnston, an Australian who had represented New South Wales before marrying an Irish woman and switching his passport, said Ireland needs more exposure to top international competition.

"We still have one-day international status for two years. The Irish team needs more exposure, possibly high-level games against top teams," he said.

Beside Johnston, opener Jeremy Bray and paceman Dave Langford-Smith were the other Australia-born players on the Ireland team.

"It was a huge game for Ireland, but it ended in a disaster," Johnston said. "Before the game, I told the boys to go out and savour the occasion."