Australian Matthew Hayden hit the fastest century in World Cup history on Saturday as a match between cricket's super powers finally drew some attention from the hunt for coach Bob Woolmer's murderer.

The burly opener's glittering 66-ball ton propelled Australia to an 83-run victory over South Africa to set the holders up for a perfect finale to the first round stage which finished yesterday.

Hayden's spectacular hitting, however, could not distract much of the Caribbean's focus from the police investigation into the killing of Pakistan coach Woolmer which has rocked a sport played chiefly by countries from the former British empire.

After seven traumatic days the Pakistan team finally left Jamaica, beginning their long journey home in Montego Bay with stopovers in Kingston and London ahead of completing the final leg to Pakistan.

Before they left the country, Jamaican police again questioned Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, team manager Talat Ali and assistant coach Mushtaq Ahmed just three hours before their scheduled departure.

"It was nothing special but I think it was something he (an unnamed police officer) missed," Inzamam told reporters.

"He told me 'please go home, there is nothing else'."

Woolmer, 58, was found strangled in a Jamaican hotel room last Sunday less than 24 hours after his team had lost to Ireland, a non-test playing country considered virtual no-hopers.

Free to leave

Jamaica deputy police commissioner Mark Shields confirmed the Pakistan party had been free to leave Jamaica.

"There is nothing to suggest that any of them are a suspect at this stage," he told a news conference in Kingston.

On the pitch, Hayden anchored a dauntingly high total of 377 for six aided by the small boundaries at Warner Park in the final Group A match against South Africa.

AB de Villiers, stroking the ball with a beguiling combination of power and finesse, reached 92 from 70 balls as South Africa raced to 160 without loss.

A splendid piece of fielding by Shane Watson, who hit the stumps from the boundary, accounted for de Villiers and from then on the South Africans fell steadily behind the required run rate.

They were eventually bowled out for 294 with two overs to spare to give Australia victory.

The match was the most eagerly anticipated in the first round after Australia lost their number one ranking to South Africa last month and confirmed the champions, who are aiming for an unprecedented hat-trick of victories, are back at the top of their game.

Neither the players nor the estimated crowd of 8,000 spectators noticed a prison riot that happened just 400 meters away from Warner Park.

Marijuana seized

The national security ministry issued a statement saying an uprising had erupted in the prison on Friday night after inmates fought off warders who wanted to search a cell.

"The prisoners were eventually subdued and the search of the cell was conducted resulting in a small quantity of marijuana being seized," the statement said.

In Saturday's other match, England ensured they would advance to the second-stage Super Eights, starting with Australia versus West Indies tomorrow, with a seven-wicket win over Kenya in St Lucia.

Opener Ed Joyce scored 75 and combined with Kevin Pietersen, who scored 56 not out, to eliminate the Africans in a match reduced to 43 overs a side after rain delayed the start by two hours.

The first round concluded yesterday with Bangladesh hoping to cement their place in the next round by avoiding defeat against Bermuda in Trinidad.

Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, New Zealand, West Indies and Ireland are already through to contest the round-robin Super Eights with the top four playing in the semifinals.

The tournament concludes with the final in Barbados on April 28.

(China Daily via Agencies March 26, 2007)