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Aussies clinch a dramatic victory as Windies commit hara-kiri

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World Champions Australia clinched victory from the jaws of defeat in the opening game of the Tri-Series DLF Cup at Kuala Lumpur. Chasing a mighty target of 280 under lights at the Kinrara Oval, Windies were off to a blistering start thanks to an amazing display of strokeplay from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle. West Indies committed hara-kiri once these two batsmen got dismissed allowing Australia to sneak through the door of opportunity. In the end, West Indies crashed out to a 78-run defeat with its last nine wickets falling for just 21 runs! There was an 81 early on from Michael Clarke and then a 92 from Chanderpaul, but the Player of the Match went to Shane Watson, the all rounder making a comeback in the Aussie line up. He was one bowler who bowled with plenty of fire and aggression despite being smacked away all over the park. Eventually Shane Watson had the last laugh taking four wickets.

It was the first ever One Day International played on this ground and there was a high degree of uncertainty about how the wicket would play for the 100 overs. Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first with his side being packed with full of surprises. There was no place for the match winners like Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee and others. West Indies had a predicted line up though with the exception of Corey Collymore sitting out. Australia began their innings with the left handed pair of Phil Jaques and Simon Katich. Fidel Edwards who was back in the action for Windies after recovering from his hamstring injury cleaned up Jaques with a quick inswinger. The ball was seaming around and bouncing a lot more and it looked that the batsmen would struggle. But Ricky Ponting came out and took the bowlers on and soon West Indies were in disarray. Lara was making all sorts of changes and at one stage he had used 6 bowlers within 18 overs! However West Indies were helped by a meaningless and scratchy innings by Simon Katich that was neutralizing the Ponting effect.

West Indies were brought back into the scheme of things as Ponting was beaten by one that came back and kept low by Bradshaw. Ponting made a 53-ball 54 and soon Katich followed him back to the pavilion after labouring hard for a 69-ball 36. Australia were reduced to 119 for 3 in the 25th over. Michael Clarke was joined by the young Mark Cosgrove and the innings was back in shape with the two playing some dashing shots. Cosgrove couldn’t convert his promising innings into a big one as he slapped Dwayne Smith straight to the mid off fielder for 34. Michael Clarke was opening up his shoulders at this stage going over the top as Australia approached the last stages of its innings. Bravo did the rescue act for Windies by yorking the dangerous Michael Clarke who ended up at 81 in 79 balls with 9 hits to the fence. Australia stretched its total to 279 losing 9 wickets. Bradshaw was the best for West Indies taking 2 for 37 in his 10. Dwayne Smith was lucky to go for just 39 besides taking two wickets in his 9 overs. However it was Jerome Taylor who stole the limelight with his quick inswingers that cleaned up Haddin, Bracken and Johnson.

The pair of Gayle and Chanderpaul was forced to play in a cautious manner as Glenn McGrath and Nathan Bracken got the ball to move around in both directions. Once the two players survived the tough period of the first few overs, the big shots came out. Shivnarine Chanderpaul was the most aggressive of the two batsmen and his shots were mainly the pick up shots over the infield using his bottom hand to good effect. Gayle soon joined him in the boundary act and the Aussie bowlers were soon running for cover. Apart from Glenn McGrath who was rested after a four overs spell, everyone were smashed around without any mercy. The breakthrough for Australia finally came in the 18th over with Gayle chopping Watson to the point fielder. Gayle made a power packed 58 with two sixes. Chanderpaul followed him back in the pavilion after nearly six overs when he was done in by the extra bounce by left arm quick Mitchell Johnson. Chanderpaul had missed his century by just 8 runs and he had played just 83 balls. He struck 10 fours and as many as four sixes.

For West Indies, one of those two openers had to carry on getting West Indies in the comfort zone. They never could calm down and consolidate their situation but they took the other alternative of smashing to glory. The other batsmen were dismissed one after the other playing poor strokes coupled with the energetic Australian bowling and fielding. Lara had started the slide by walking across his stumps and getting plumb in front to Johnson. McGrath had returned for his second spell and was gifted with the wicket of Bravo who was very brave to attempt a flick off the backfoot to an away going delivery from McGrath around the offstump region. That brave shot had of course cost his wicket. West Indies were in for a defeat once they lost Ramnaresh Sarwan who was hurried onto playing a pull shot off Shane Watson. West Indies collapsed to 201 all out in just the 35th over. Shane Watson had grabbed four wickets for 43 in his 8 while Nathan Bracken and Mitchell Johnson picked up two wickets each but not before getting their figures damaged by the opening onslaught.

It was a terrible show from West Indies; they showed the world how to lose a match from such a great position. However nothing can be taken away from the opening partnership between Chanderpaul and Gayle which was a display of stunning fireworks under lights. Australia have shown everyone the reason why they had won the last two world cups. The next action is between the demoralized West Indies team versus another unpredictable side – India which is on the 14th at this same venue.