For a man whose place in the Australia one-day side had seemed a thing of the past not so long ago Matthew Hayden has undergone a remarkable renaissance and in Antigua yesterday set down a benchmark for the player-of-the-tournament award with a second successive century of sheer brutality that condemned West Indies to a heady run chase.
That run chase will take place today after steady rain prevented any further play after the completion of the Australian innings of 322 for six.
Last Saturday, on the postage stamp in St Kitts, Hayden hammered South Africa for a century from 66 balls, the fastest in the history of the World Cup. Yesterday, given wider open spaces, he caned West Indies for 158 as Australia, put in to bat by Brian Lara, ran up an imposing total.
In all Hayden hit 14 fours and four sixes, big hits all though one in particular soared way into the stands to be caught by a jubilant Australia supporter. His third fifty came at a rate of almost two runs per ball. He had needed 18 balls to score his first run yet faced only 143 deliveries in all to finish with the highest World Cup score by an Australian by the time he holed out at long-off from the bowling of Dwayne Bravo.
The left-handed opener appeared to interpret accurately the conditions on this newly built ground, gradually upping the ante before launching a brutal late assault. Until he sustained cramp towards the end of his knock he looked troubled only when involved in some seat-of-the-pants running early on, although West Indies in general and Corey Collymore in particular will argue that he should have been given out caught behind when 44.
Collymore sent a delivery down the legside and Hayden, flicking outside his pad, did appear to feather a catch to Dinesh Ramdin behind the stumps. The umpire, Asad Rauf of Pakistan, disagreed and compounded things by signalling a wide.
There was one more moment of fortune for Hayden on 109 when he struck Powell for four over the head of Sarwan, stationed five yards in from the boundary edge at long-off.
Hayden received strong support from Ricky Ponting (35) and Michael Clarke (40) with whom he added 98 for the third wicket, and towards the end of the innings from Shane Watson. Watson, an inventive batsman skilled in monitoring the field and placing the ball accordingly - a flick to fine-leg from down on one knee carried comfortably for six - made an unbeaten 33 from 26 balls to add late impetus, with 99 runs coming off the last 10 overs.
Scoreboard
West Indies v Australia
West Indies won toss
Australia Innings
A Gilchristc Ramdin b D B Powell 7
M Haydenc Samuels b Bravo 158
R Pontingrun out 35
M Clarkelbw b Bravo 41
A Symondsc Ramdin b Samuels 13
M Husseyb D B Powell 9
S Watsonnot out 33
G Hoggnot out 5
Extrasb1 lb9 w8 nb3 ... 21
Total6 wkts, (50 overs) 322
Fall:1-10 2-76 3-174 4-208 5-234 6-297.
Did Not Bat:N W Bracken, S W Tait, G D McGrath.
Bowling:D B Powell 10 2 53 2 Taylor 10 0 67 0 Collymore 10 0 56 0 Gayle 4 0 29 0 Bravo 7 0 49 2 Samuels 9 0 58 1.
Play suspended and will resume today
