Shivnarine Chanderpaul's blazing start went in vain as the West Indies suffered a dramatic collapse to give Australia a comfortable 78-runvictory in the opening match of the DLF Cup tri-series in Kuala Lumpur today.
Chanderpaul smashed a 83-ball 92 during a century opening stand with Chris Gaylebut the West Indies, chasing a target of 280, lost their last eight wickets for25 runs and folded up for 201.
All-rounder Shane Watson, who was at the receiving end of Chanderpaul's fury inhis opening spell, benefitted from the Caribbean harakiri to return with fourfor 42.
Gayle slammed an equally aggressive 58 off 46 balls but the rest of the batsmengot out to some loose shots and gave Ricky Ponting's men an easy victory in thefirst international match at this off-shore venue.
The Australian total of 279 for 9 revolved around Michael Clarke's stroke-filled81 and a fluent 54 by Ponting.
The scoreline could have been even larger if not for Jerome Taylor's accuratefast bowling that fetched him three for 59 and cut the Aussie sails in theclosing stages.
West Indies now take on India in the second match at the same venue on Thursday.
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Chanderpaul and Gayle were on fire as they added 136runs for the opening wicket.
After making three from the first 22 balls he faced,the former captain cut loose with an array of strokes against the Aussie newball bowlers.
Apart from Glenn McGrath, who was playing in his first match in eight months,the rest of the Australian bowlers looked hapless as the two left-handers wenthammer and tongs.
Nathan Bracken, who started with two maiden overs, was thrashed for threesuccessive boundaries by Chanderpaul in his next over.
The left arm seamer's following over cost 17 runs through two sixes and a four,all to Chanderpaul whose 50 came off 45 balls.
Gayle, who till then was unusually subdued, found his boundary in the 12th overoff Watson.
The Jamaican, who was dropped by Michael Clarke on 13, then lifted Mitchell Johnson foran effortless six and followed it up with a boundary in the same over.
Watson provided the breakthrough when Gayle chopped a catch straight to PhilJaques at point. His 58 consisted of seven boundaries and two sixes.
The more crucial wicket of Chanderpaul came 36 runs later when the left-handeredged a sharp-rising delivery from Johnson to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
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Ponting then took a diving catch to dismiss thedangerous Ramnaresh Sarwan (22) after Lara fell leg before to Johnson for one.
Watson found himself on a hat-trick after sending backIan Bradshaw and Jerome Taylor off successive balls, but was negated by FidelEdwards.
Bracken fittingly completed the Australian turnaroundwith the wicket of Dwayne Smith.
Earlier, Clarke's knock helped the Aussies to sustainthe tempo amidst a flurry of wickets.
Ponting found his touch with a fluent 54 while SimonKatich boosted his claims for the opener's slot with a solid 36.
Newcomer Mark Cosgrove produced a vital 34 that offsetthe late order collapse.
Bradshaw kept the Aussies on a leash with aneconomical 2-37 Jerome Taylor reined them in the final overs with threewickets for 59.
The West Indies' seamers, however, proved to beindisciplined, conceding as many as 28 extras. Ponting and Katich added 97 runsfor the second wicket after the fall of Jaques for two with only nine runson the board.
PTI
