Australia lift DLF Cup

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 24 (IANS) Australia proved their world supremacy once again as they slapped a stunning 127-run defeat on the West Indies to win the DLF Cup triangular series here Sunday.

Chasing a target of 241, West Indies got off to a very poor start and could not recover from it. They were eventually bowled out for 113 in 34.2 overs in the day-night encounter at the Kinrara Academy Oval.

Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Runako Morton and Ian Bradshaw were back in the pavilion without opening their account. Ramnaresh Sarwan (36), Dwayne Smith (30) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (12) were the only West Indies batsmen to reach the double figures with extras contributing 19.

Man of the Match Brett Lee wrecked the West Indies batting with his four for 24 and Nathan Bracken took three wickets for 16 in seven overs. Glenn McGrath was the most economical bowler as he gave only six runs in as many overs.

Lee, who was also adjudged Man of the Series, struck with the very first ball as he trapped Gayle leg before the wicket.

Left-arm fast bowler Bracken then struck to remove Chanderpaul and Runako Morton (0). At one point West Indies were struggling at 56 for the loss of six wickets.

But it was the 50-run seventh wicket partnership between Sarwan and Smith, which saved the West Indies from suffering the ignominy of being bundled out under 100 runs.

The partnership was broken by Australia captain Ricky Ponting whose brilliant direct throw from the mid-on found Sarwan short of crease by miles.

Skipper Brian Lara failed to rise to the occasion and was out for five runs. The left-hander edged Bracken's away-going delivery to wicketkeeper Haddin.

Opting to bat first, Australia scored 240 for six in 50 overs. Damien Martyn and Andrew Symonds made identical 52 while Mike Hussey made an unbeaten 30 and Simon Katich scored 25.

The Australians didn't get off to a good start either as they lost two wickets for just 37 runs on board. Shane Watson (18) was the first to depart as he edged a Bradshaw delivery to Gayle in the first slip. Ponting (6) followed him as he was trapped leg before the wicket by Jerome Taylor.

With the score at 80 for the loss of three, it was then Symonds and Martyn who started the recovery work with their 73-runs partnership that eventually saw Australia put up a decent total.

Hussey's quick-fire 30 came in 24 balls and included two boundaries and a towering six. Michael Clarke also contributed with a brisk 23 off 24 deliveries.

For the West Indies, Bradshaw and Sarwan picked up two wickets each.

SCORECARD

Seventh match/Final, Australia vs West Indies (Day-Night), DLF Cup, Kinrara Academy Oval, Kuala Lumpur, Sep 24

Australia:

Shane Watson c Gayle b Bradshaw 18

Simon Katich c sub (Samuels) b Gayle 25

Ricky Ponting lbw Taylor 6

Damien Martyn c Morton b Bradshaw 52

Andrew Symonds c Morton b Sarwan 52

Matthew Clarke c Gayle b Sarwan 23

Mike Hussey not out 30

Brad Haddin not out 17

Extras (lb 7, w 9, nb 1) 17

Total (for 6 wickets in 50 overs) 240

Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Watson, 6.6 overs), 2-37 (Ponting, 13.2), 3-80 (Katich, 23.4), 4-153 (Martyn, 38.2), 5-173 (Symonds, 41.3), 6-200 (Clarke, 46.1)

Bowling:

Ian Bradshaw 10-2-30-2 (1w), Dwayne Smith 8-1-35-0 (1nb, 1w), Jerome Taylor 10-1-36-1, Dwayne Bravo 9-1-65-0 (3w), Chris Gayle 9-0-46-1 (3w), Ramnaresh Sarwan 4-0-21-2

West Indies

Chris Gayle lbw Lee 0

Shivnarine Chanderpaul c Katich b Bracken 12

Runako Morton lbw Bracken 0

Ramnaresh Sarwan run out (Ponting) 36

Brian Lara c Haddin b Bracken 5

Dwayne Bravo c Ponting b Watson 8

Wavell Hinds b Watson 0

Dwayne Smith c Ponting b Lee 30

Carlton Baugh c Haddin b Lee 3

Ian Bradshaw c Haddin b Lee 0

Jerome Taylor not out 0

Extras (b 2, lb 7, w 3, nb 7) 19

Total (all out in 34.2 overs) 113

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Gayle, 0.1 overs), 2-16 (Chanderpaul, 7.2), 3-20 (Morton, 9.6), 4-32 (Lara, 15.3), 5-55 (Bravo, 22.1), 6-56 (Hinds, 22.5), 7-106 (Sarwan, 30.3), 8-112 (Smith, 32.1), 9-112 (Bradshaw, 32.4), 10-113 (Baugh, 34.2)

Bowling

Brett Lee 8.2-1-24-4 (3nb)

Glenn McGrath 6-2-6-0 (1nb, 1w)

Nathan Bracken 7-0-16-3 (1w)

Shane Watson 6-0-30-2 (3nb, 1w)

Andrew Symonds 3-0-15-0

Michael Clarke 4-0-13-0

Result: Australia won by 127 runs

Man of the Match: Brett Lee

Man of the series: Brett Lee

Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and Mark Benson (England)

TV umpire: Anthony Hill (New Zealand)

Match referee: B.C. Broad (England)