KINGSTON (Jamaica), May 19: Skipper Ricky Ponting scored an unbeaten 57 as Australia coasted to an eight wicket win over West Indies on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the seven-match One-day International series (partly reported in Monday’s edition).
The win was set up by a flawless bowling performance, spearheaded by paceman Glenn McGrath who took 4-31 to help skittle West Indies out for just 163 in 49 overs on a good batting wicket.
Australia replied with 166 for two, openers Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden barely breaking sweat in a half-century stand at Sabina Park.
West Indies’s hopes were briefly revived when Gilchrist (22) was caught at deep square leg from a Corey Collymore delivery.
Ponting took the crease and initially checked the hard-hitting instincts of Hayden until the target was within closer range.
With victory in sight Ponting began using his wristy strokes to full effect, including one mighty six over the covers off the luckless Mervyn Dillon.
Hayden (51) continued to clock up runs, but was caught at the long-on boundary just one ball after reaching his half-century.
McGrath and fellow pace bowler Brett Lee had given the West Indies a lesson in tight bowling, including a stream of highly accurate yorkers.
Lee took 2-22 off seven overs, while Andy Bichel collected the scalps of West Indies skipper Brian Lara and dangerous opener Chris Gayle.
Ricardo Powell top-scored for the hosts with 32.
WEST INDIES:
C.H. Gayle c Gilchrist b Bichel 28
D.S. Smith c and b Lee 1
M.N. Samuels c Gilchrist b McGrath 6
B.C. Lara c Gilchrist b Bichel 5
R.R. Sarwan c Hayden b Gillespie 14
R.L. Powell c McGrath b Hogg 32
O.A.C. Banks c Gilchrist b Lee 29
C.S. Baugh b McGrath 29
V.C. Drakes b McGrath 1
M. Dillon not out 3
C.D. Collymore lbw b McGrath 0
EXTRAS (B-2, LB-4, W-9) 15
TOTAL (all out, 49 overs) 163
FALL OF WKTS: 1-4, 2-21, 3-43, 4-50, 5-75, 6-103, 7-157, 8-160, 9-163.
BOWLING: McGrath 10-2-31-4 (1w); Lee 7-0-22-2 (2w); Gillespie 9-0-28-1 (2w); Bichel 5-0-27-2; Hogg 10-3-27-1; Symonds 8-0-22-0 (3w).
AUSTRALIA:
A.C. Gilchrist c Samuels b Collymore 27
M.L. Hayden c Collymore b Banks 51
R.T. Ponting not out 57
A. Symonds not out 17
EXTRAS (LB-10, W-3, NB-1) 14
TOTAL (for two wkts, 35.1 overs) 166
FALL OF WKTS: 1-50, 2-120.
DID NOT BAT: J.P. Maher, M.G. Bevan, G.B. Hogg, A.J. Bichel, B. Lee, J.N. Gillespie, G.D. McGrath.
BOWLING: Dillon 10-1-45-0; Collymore 8.1-1-35-1 (1nb); Banks 10-0-42-1; Drakes 1-0-6-0; Gayle 6-0-28-0 (2w).
RESULT: Australia won by eight wickets.
UMPIRES: E.A. Nicholls (West Indies) and D.R. Shepherd (England).
TV UMPIRE: B. Doctrove (West Indies).
MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Madugalle (Sri Lanka).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Glenn McGrath.
FIRST MATCH: Kingston, Australia won by two runs.
THIRD MATCH: Castries (St Lucia), May 21.
FOURTH MATCH: Port-of-Spain (Trinidad), May 24.
FIFTH MATCH: Port-of-Spain (Trinidad), May 25.
SIXTH MATCH: St George’s (Grenada), May 30.
SEVENTH MATCH: St George’s (Grenada), June 1.—Reuters