CASTRIES, St Lucia, May 21: Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke smashed 75 runs each to guide Australia to 258 for four off 50 overs in the third one-day international against West Indies on Wednesday.

The pair produced a 99-run partnership to shore up the Australian innings, that was starting to look vulnerable at 79 for three.

Pace bowlers Mervyn Dillon and Corey Collymore put the Australian batsmen under early pressure after West Indies captain Brian Lara won the toss and put the tourists in to bat.

Dillon was rewarded for a good opening spell when Matthew Hayden was caught behind for 20.

Jimmy Maher, who had a reverse sweep from off-spinner Omari Banks dropped by Wavell Hinds at short third man, was then caught for 17 just two balls later by Devon Smith at long leg to leave the visitors 48 for two in the 10th over.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting attacked the West Indies bowlers from the outset but when he was run out for 32 by Collymore the visitors were 79 for three in the 17th over.

Symonds and Clarke, in only his second one-day international, then regained the initiative as they boosted the run rate further with aggressive running.

Symonds was also particularly brutal against the wayward bowling of part-timers Wavell Hinds and Marlon Samuels, smashing a series of boundaries.

West Indies were hampered by the absence of the injured Jermaine Lawson and the unwell Vasbert Drakes, but off-spinner Chris Gayle made a breakthrough when he bowled Symonds for 75.

Clarke then combined in a 80-run unbroken partnership with Michael Bevan (32 not out) to see the visitors to a challenging target on a good batting wicket and fast outfield.

Scoreboard

Australia J.Maher c Smith b Banks 17 M.Hayden c Baugh b Dillon 20 R.Ponting run out 32 A.Symonds b Gayle 75 M.Clarke not out 75 M Bevan not out 32 Extras (lb-2 w-2 nb-3) 7 Total (for four wickets, 50 overs) 258

Fall of wickets: 1-25 2-48 3-79 4-178

Bowling: M.Dillon 10-0-36-1 (3-nb, 1-w), C.Collymore 10-0-52-0, O.Banks 7-0-38-1, W.Hinds 7-0-42-0, C.Gayle 10-0-50-1 (1-w), M.Samuels 6-0-38-0—Reuters