July 08, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 4, 1429

BASSETERRE (St Kitts), July 7: Luke Ronchi paced a record Australian innings and Mitchell Johnson took five wickets to seal a 169-run win over the West Indies in the fifth and final One-day International on Sunday.

The victory completed a 5-0 sweep in the series following a 2-0 win in the Test series.

Ronchi’s 64 off 29 balls — including six sixes and five fours — helped Australia amass 341 for eight off 50 overs, bettering their previous best against the West Indies of 338 for six in Melbourne in 2000-01.

David Hussey scored a 19-ball half century in the latter stages, hitting four fours and four sixes in 52 off 21 balls, after Andrew Symonds (66) and Mike Hussey (51) added more measured half centuries to anchor the middle innings.

The West Indies never challenged the target and were bowled out for 172 off 39.5 overs.

Shawn Findlay, in only his second one-dayer, top-scored with an unbeaten 59 for the home side.

Left-arm pacer Johnson claimed two early wickets and then returned to decimate the tail end to finish with five for 29 off 7.5 overs.

Australia began well after winning the toss on another fine batting pitch.

Openers Shaun Marsh (49) and Shane Watson (29) combined for 70 off 12.5 overs.

After Watson departed with a square cut to third man off Dwayne Bravo, Ronchi entered in only his second one-day innings and hit Chris Gayle for three sixes in one over.

He also punished Edwards and reached his half century off 22 balls to the equal the second-fastest by an Australian.

Marsh and Ronchi added another 59 runs for the second wicket, but the West Indian bowlers stiffened and claimed three wickets for 13 runs. Marsh edged Edwards to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin and the spin of Nikita Miller, and Ramnaresh Sarwan accounted for Ronchi and captain Michael Clarke to reduce the Australians to 152 for four in the 23rd over.

Ronchi snicked left-arm spinner Miller’s first ball to Ramdin, who also claimed Clarke from Sarwan’s first delivery.

Symonds and Michael Hussey then joined to reclaim the momentum for Australia, sharing a stand of 113 for the fifth wicket.

Symonds struck six fours and a six off 80 balls before he edged to Ramdin. Hussey hit three fours off 56 deliveries in his 51.

David Hussey appeared on course for the fastest half century by an Australian, but fell just short of Simon O’Donnell’s 18-ball effort in 1999 against Sri Lanka in Sharjah.

Johnson quickly stamped Australia’s dominance as West Indies replied meekly.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA:

S.E. Marsh c Ramdin b Edwards 49

S.R. Watson c Powell b Bravo 29

L. Ronchi c Ramdin b Miller 64

M.J. Clarke c Ramdin b Sarwan 5

M.E.K. Hussey c Findlay b Edwards 51

A. Symonds c Ramdin b Edwards 66

D.J. Hussey c Powell b Sarwan 50

J.R. Hopes c Fletcher b Sarwan 18

B. Lee not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-3, W-1, NB-3) 7

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 341

FALL OF WKTS: 1-70, 2-129, 3-150, 4-152, 5-265, 6-280, 7-341, 8-341.

DID NOT BAT: M.G. Johnson, N.W. Bracken.

BOWLING: Edwards 9-0-86-3 (3nb); Powell 10-0-50-0; Bravo 10-0-74-1 (1w); Gayle 2-0-33-0; Miller 10-0-38-1; Sarwan 9-1-57-3.

WEST INDIES:

C.H. Gayle c Ronchi b Johnson 5

X.M. Marshall lbw b Watson 17

R.R. Sarwan c Hopes b Johnson 7

S. Chanderpaul c Lee b Clarke 38

S.E. Findlay not out 59

D.J. Bravo c D. Hussey b Symonds 13

A.D.S. Fletcher st Ronchi b Clarke 1

D. Ramdin c M. Hussey b Symonds 3

D.B.L. Powell b Johnson 10

N.O. Miller c Watson b Johnson 8

F.H. Edwards c Hopes b Johnson 0

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-9) 11

TOTAL (all out, 39.5 overs) 172

FALL OF WKTS: 1-6, 2-21, 3-56, 4-92, 5-129, 6-131, 7-138, 8-158, 9-172.

BOWLING: Lee 9-0-42-0 (4w); Johnson 7.5-1-29-5 (2w); Bracken 5-0-19-0; Watson 5-0-23-1; Clarke 6-0-34-2 (1w); Symonds 7-0-23-2 (2w)

RESULT: Australia won by 169 runs to clinch series 5-0.

UMPIRES: S.A. Bucknor (West Indies) and Asad Rauf (Pakistan).

TV UMPIRE: N. Malcolm (West Indies).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Mahanama (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Luke Ronchi.

MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Shane Watson.—AP