Cricket:Australia completed a 103-run victory over West Indies in the opening Super Eights match of the Cricket World Cup which spilled into a second day after rain had stopped play.
Once again captain Brian Lara with 77 was the only player from
the host team to offer any real resistance as the West Indies'
batting disintegrated in a rash of undisciplined shots at the Sir
Vivian Richards Stadium.
The innings finally ended on a hot, sunny afternoon,
contrasting with Tuesday's miserable conditions, when Shaun Tait
bowled Daren Powell for five to end the innings at 219 with 4.3
overs to spare.
West Indies, chasing 323 to beat the defending champions,
were a miserable 20 for three when Lara came to the crease with
Chris Gayle (2) and Marlon Samuel (4) succumbing to catches after
wild heaves.
He set about repairing the innings in partnership with
Ramnaresh Sarwan, who survived a chance to Michael Hussey at
mid-wicket with his score on 12, to help bring up the 50 from 19.1
overs.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting brought back his strike bowler
Tait, who had generated his highest pace of the tournament with
speeds in excess of 150 kilometres an hour (93 miles an hour).
Lara responded with a hook for four, followed by a sumptuous
drive though the covers and then a thin edge which also sped to the
boundary.
The pair had added 71 for the fourth wicket when Sarwan
slapped a full toss from Hogg straight to Ponting at mid-wicket and
was out for 29.
Dwayne Bravo (9) became Glenn McGrath's third victim before
Lara brought up his 63rd one-day half-century from 62 balls with
seven fours.
Lara was eventually out trapped lbw to left-arm spinner Brad
Hogg going down on his knees and trying to squeeze a delivery past
wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.
A flurry of attacking shots from wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin
(52) held the Australians up longer than they might have
anticipated before he was caught behind off Nathan Bracken bowling
left-arm cutters off his short run.
McGrath, relishing the early moisture in the pitch, finished
with three for 31 from eight overs to move to within one wicket of
equalling Pakistani Wasim Akram's World Cup record of 55. Hogg
captured three for 56 from 10.
Ponting praised the contributions of his bowlers the day
after his team posted their fourth consecutive total exceeding 300
in as many matches in the tournament.
"I thought our new ball bowling was excellent," he told a
news conference.
Lara said losing three wickets in fewer than 10 overs had
been a major factor but defended Gayle and Samuels's shot
selections. Gayle was caught at mid-wicket trying to pull while
Samuels hit an attempted drive straight up into the air.
"I don't think anybody goes out there to play a rash shot and
get out," he said. "Some days that might come off and people clap
and say 'what a wonderful shot'."