09 February 2004	Monday	17 Zilhaj 1424

SYDNEY, Feb 8: Australia handed India one of the worst defeats in One-day International history to clinch the best-of-three finals series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.

The world champions cruised to a 208-run victory in the second match, equalling the eighth biggest winning margin in limited-overs internationals after piling up a massive 359 for five and then skittling the Indians for just 151.

"It's been another fantastic series," Australia captain Ricky Ponting said. "When the big games come around, the character of this side really stands up." Matthew Hayden led the Australian run-feast with a brilliant 126 while Damien Martyn (67) and Andrew Symonds (66) helped themselves to half-centuries.

Australia's total equalled their highest score in One-day Internationals, made against India at last year's World Cup final in South Africa, while India suffered their second worst defeat.

"I hope we can better," India captain Saurav Ganguly said. India made a disastrous start in reply, losing their first six wickets for just 59 runs to end any hope of keeping the series alive after losing the first match in Melbourne by seven wickets on Friday.

Openers Sachin Tendulkar (27) and Virender Sehwag (12) tried to give the tourists a flying start but it was all to no avail. Sehwag hit the first ball of the innings for six but both openers were brilliantly caught by Brett Lee at leg slip off Jason Gillespie to trigger a batting collapse, Vangipurappu Laxman (five), Ganguly (three) and Rahul Dravid (nought) all departing in quick succession.

India's dismal display followed an energetic batting performance by the world champions in front of a full house at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Hayden completed his fourth One-day International hundred with 126 off 122 balls while Martyn made 67 off 76 deliveries.

Symonds blazed 66 off just 39 balls as he and Michael Clarke (33 not out) put on 99 for the fifth wicket from 47 deliveries to put Australia on course to wrap up the series. Hayden and Martyn shared a partnership of 157 for the third wicket after Australia lost player of the series Adam Gilchrist and Ponting early on.

Gilchrist went for 29 in the ninth over when he was caught by Indian skipper Ganguly at mid-on off pace bowler Ashish Nehra before Ponting, Man-of-the-Match in Australia's seven-wicket win in the first final in Melbourne on Friday, was caught behind by Dravid off Irfan Pathan for just four.

The Australians then went on the rampage, demolishing an attack missing Ajit Agarkar and leg spinner Anil Kumble. Hayden, named Man-of-the-Match, struck 11 boundaries and three sixes in his innings while Martyn hit four fours with his best performance of the series.

Martyn went with the total on 230 when he was caught on the boundary and he was quickly joined in the pavilion by Hayden, who was bowled by Tendulkar. Symonds and Clarke then set about increasing the run-rate with Symonds reaching his half-century off 32 balls.

He clubbed seven fours and three sixes in his innings before he was bowled by Nehra in the last over. Even his dismissal didn't stem the run flow as Simon Katich scored 11 off four balls to help Australia equal their record total.

India's batting was not helped by two needless runouts, but the tourists were never able to handle the pace and accuracy of the Australian fast bowlers.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA:

A.C. Gilchrist c Ganguly b Nehra 29

M.L. Hayden b Tendulkar 126

R.T. Ponting c Dravid b Pathan 4

D.R. Martyn c Badani b Pathan 67

A. Symonds b Nehra 66

M.J. Clarke not out 33

S.M. Katich not out 11

EXTRAS (LB-6, W-15, NB-2) 23

TOTAL (for five wkts, 50 overs) 359

FALL OF WKTS: 1-62, 2-73, 3-230, 4-248, 5-347.

DID NOT BAT: I.J. Harvey, B. Lee, J.N. Gillespie, B.A. Williams.

BOWLING: Pathan 10-0-75-2 (2w); Balaji 9-0-65-0 (1nb); Nehra 10-0-63-2 (3w); Kartik 7-0-51-0 (1nb, 6w); Sehwag 5-0-30-0; Ganguly 1-0-9-0 (2w); Tendulkar 8-0-60-1 (2w).

INDIA:

V. Sehwag c Lee b Gillespie 12

S.R. Tendulkar c Lee b Gillespie 27

V.V.S. Laxman c and b Lee 5

S.C. Ganguly c Symonds b Harvey 3

R.S. Dravid run out 0

Yuvraj Singh c Gilchrist b Harvey 4

H.K. Badani run out 18

I.K. Pathan b Lee 30

M. Kartik c Gilchrist b Williams 23

L. Balaji b Williams 2

A. Nehra not out 14

EXTRAS (LB-7, W-4, NB-2) 13

TOTAL (all out, 33.2 overs) 151

FALL OF WKTS: 1-22, 2-49, 3-49, 4-52, 5-56, 6-59, 7-99, 8-123, 9-136.

BOWLING: Gillespie 9-1-52-2; Lee 10-1-39-2 (1nb, 2w); Williams 6.2-1-12-2; Harvey 5-2-30-2 (1nb); Symonds 3-1-11-0 (2w).

RESULT: Australia won by 208 runs to win best-of-three finals 2-0.

UMPIRES: D.J. Harper (Australia) and R.E. Koertzen (South Africa).

TV UMPIRE: S.J.A. Taufel (Australia).

MATCH REFEREE: C.H. Lloyd (West Indies).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Matthew Hayden.

MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Adam Gilchrist.

FIRST FINAL: Melbourne, Australia won by seven wickets. -Reuters