India beat England by 127 runs in 2nd ODI

India beat England by 127 runs in their second one-day international in Kochi on Tuesday as Ravichandran Ashwin took three wickets.

Earlier, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat in the second cricket one-dayer against England in Kochi on Tuesday.

India's top-order struggled once again but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (72) continued his rich vein of form to steer the hosts to a challenging 285 for six against England in the second one-dayer here today.

Dhoni blasted a 66-ball 72 laced with seven fours and two sixes, to take his team past the 250-run mark after they were reduced to 119-4 in 26.2 overs.

Dhoni featured in two crucial partnerships --- first adding 55 runs with Suresh Raina and then 96 runs with Ravindra Jadeja for the fifth and sixth wickets respectively.

Middle-order batsman Raina also cracked a well-paced half-century off 78 balls, studded with two sixes and a couple of fours, to initially steady the innings along with Dhoni having come into bat at No 5.

However, it was in the last 10 overs which gave the hosts the impetus as Dhoni and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, amassed 108 runs, to put the team in a comfortable position after they decided to bat first.

Steven Finn was the top wickettaker for England as he took two wickets for 51 runs, while James Tredwell bowled really well, taking one wicket for 48 runs.

Jade Dernbach and Chris Woakes were expensive but snapped two and one wicket to contribute to the team.

Earlier, India had a tottering start as they were reduced to 18 for two by the English pace duo of Finn and Dernbach.

Gautam Gambhir (8) and Ajinkya Rahane (4) paid the price for their poor footwork as both were cleaned bowled by Dernbach and Finn respectively.

While, Gambhir failed to defend an incoming delivery from Finn, Rahane tried to play too away from the body, leaving a huge gap which was breached by the inswinger from Dernbach.

Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh then tried to steady the ship and added 53 runs off 65 balls for the third wicket.

Teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt and wk), Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Shami Ahmed.

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Craig Kieswetter, Samit Patel, James Tredwell, Steven Finn, Jade Dernbach, Chris Woakes.

Source: Hindustan Times

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Ajinkya Rahane Clean Bold By Steven Finn in 2nd ODI

Steven Finn celebrates after dismissing Ajinkya Rahane with an inswinger, India v England, 2nd ODI, Kochi, January 15, 2013

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India beat Pakistan by 10 runs in 3rd ODI

India pulled off a thrilling 10-run victory over Pakistan in the third and final game of the one-day series at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Sunday.

Chasing 168, Pakistan were restricted to 157 in 48.5 overs. Ishant Sharma picked up three wickets for India while Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took a couple each.

With the series already decided 2-0 in favour of Pakistan, India were expected to play for pride. But the Indian top order failed once again after skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni opted to bat on a chilly afternoon.

Dhoni, who was a doubtful includion because of a sore back, once again top scored with 36 while Suresh Raina made 31.

Ajmal suffocated the middle-order after a fine opening spell by Pakistani pacers, Junaid Khan (1/17) and Mohammed Irfan (2/28).

For Ajmal it was his second fifer - the first (5/43) coming against England in Abu Dhabi last year.

With Sehwag dropped, India started with Ajinkya Rahane and Gautam Gambhir but the pair flopped.

Irfan was the first to strike by removing the two openers. He lured Rahane (4) into a drive and a faint edge carried on to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.

Gambhir's poor run with the bat continued as he managed 15 before playing a loose shot off a short and wide delivery from Junaid only to find the other Akmal brother, Umar, at point.

Virat Kohli carried on his unimpressive run in the series and edged Junaid to Younis Khan at second slip. Kohli, who has been India's highest run getter in both Tests and ODIs this season, managed seven and has failed to get to double figures in this series. The Delhi boy failed to open his account in Chennai and got just six in Kolkata.

Junaid and Irfan left India struggling at 37/3. Junaid's first spell read 7-1-12-1 and Irfan's 7-1-28-2.

Runs were hard to come by when the two fast bowlers were in action during the first 14 overs. India merely scored 43/3.

Yuvraj Singh (23) started off well with two consecutive boundaries off Irfan. The southpaw also came down hard on Umar Gul.

Yuvraj hit Gul for three boundaries as the pacer gave 18 runs from his first over after coming in as a first change for Irfan.

But Yuvraj's flashy innings ended after he was castled by Mohammed Hafeez (1/44).

Dhoni and Raina tried to repair the innings with their 48-run stand but Ajmal wrecked the middle-order.

Ajmal picked up Raina and Ravichandran Ashwin (0) in consecutive deliveries while Dhoni fell to Gul, caught at point by Umar.

The last four wickets all went to Ajmal as India slumped from 131/6 to 167 all out. Ravindra Jadeja (27) hit some lusty blows, but it was not enough to save India from the ignominy of not being able to play the full 50 overs.

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Pakistan beat India by 6 wickets in 1st ODI

Pakistan beat India by 6 wickets in their first cricket one-day international match in Chennai today. Nasir Jamshed scored his second ODI hunderd, remained not out at 101 runs and Shoaib Malik at 34 runs.

Earlier, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni single-handedly resurrected India's innings with a defiant unbeaten century as the hosts recovered from a top-order collapse to post a fighting 227/6 against Pakistan in the first cricket one-dayer in Chennai on Sunday.

Pacer Junaid Khan had justified his captain Misbah-ul-Haq's decision to bowl first in damp conditions with a four-wicket haul, which cleaned up the Indian top order, before Dhoni (113 off 125 balls) got going and brought the home team back into the match.

The under-fire skipper, who also completed 7,000 ODI runs during the course of his innings, rescued the hosts with some fine support from Suresh Raina (43) and R Ashwin (31 not out) down the order.

Dhoni and Ashwin shared the best-ever seventh-wicket partnership for India, adding 125 runs.

But to start with, it seemed like a nightmare unfolding for India with struggling opener Virender Sehwag becoming Junaid's first victim.

The Delhi batsman, considered a game-changer for his ability to take the attack to the opposition, swung it Pakistan's way after slogging for 11 balls to get four runs.

The right-hander, already under fire for failing repeatedly in the lost Test series against England, did his reputation no good by failing to pick a Junaid inswinger, which crashed into his middle and off stumps.

What followed was a procession of sorts as the top half of the Indian line-up made quick return to the dressing room.

Big guns such as Gautam Gambhir (8), Virat Kohli (0) and Yuvraj Singh (2) made blink-and-miss appearances as Junaid worked his magic, getting ample support from Mohammed Irfan and pace spearhead Umar Gul.

The big four of the Indian batting order were all bowled, three of them by Junaid, who seemed unplayable in the damp conditions due to overnight rain.

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Pakistan Vs. India 2nd T20 Full Match Highlights

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India beat Pakistan by 11 runs in 2nd T20 to level series

New Delhi: After launching attack on Pakistan with bat, Yuvraj Singh troubles India with the ball too in second and last T20 against Pakistan in Ahmedabad on Friday.

SCORECARD: INDIA VS PAKISTAN

Yuvraj dents Pakistan by dismissing key Pakitani batsman Ahmed Shehzad. The batsman was caught behind by Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Pakistan need 193 runs to win second and last Twenty20 international cricket match against India.

Sent into bat, India scored 192 for five in the second and last Twenty20 international cricket match against Pakistan.

Virat Kohli’s fine innings came to a bizarre end when the 23 year old got run out in second and last T20 against Pakistan in Ahmedabad on Friday. Kohli scored 28 runs with the help of three boundaries.

Earlier in the game, Pakistani pacer Umar Gul troubled India by departing Indian openers.

India lost its second wicket in the form of Ajinkya Rahane who added 28 runs to Indian scorecard before being caught by the bowler himself.

After lending good start to India, Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was dismissed for 21 by Umar Gul in second and last T20.

Pakistan skipper Mohammad Hafeez won the toss and elected to bowl against India in the second and final Twenty20 cricket international at Sardar Patel Stadium on Friday.

India have left out Ravindra Jadeja and included Ravichandran Ashwin in his place.
   
Pakistan, who are leading the series 1-0, have fielded an unchanged side.
   
Teams:
   
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma and Ashoke Dinda.
   
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez (C), Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Umar 0Akmal, Mohammad Irfan, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir and Umar
Gul.

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Pakistan win first T20 against India by 5 wickets

BANGALORE: Pakistan won against India by five wickets in the first Twenty20 match of the ongoing tour in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez scored the highest by making 61 runs off 44 balls, followed by Shoaib Malik with 57 runs off 50 balls who remained not out and had shot the winning sixer of the match.

Shahid Afridi made three runs off two balls and also remained not out.

India had set a target of 134 runs for Pakistan in the first innings at a loss of nine wickets.

Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi took one wicket, Saeed Ajmal took two while Umar Gul took three wickets.

India’s Gambhir had scored the highest runs (43) followed by Rahane with 42 runs. Indian captain Dhoni was bowled out by Ajmal after making only a single run on two balls

Pakistan had earlier won the toss and elected to field first.

The India tour, the first by Pakistan since 2007, begins with this Twenty20 international which is being played under lights at Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy stadium.

Iron barricades were lined up and riot control vehicles on duty as security men patrolled the stadium in the heart of Bangalore, the capital of the southeastern state of Karnataka.

The teams are set to play another Twenty20 match in the western city of Ahmedabad followed by three one-day matches during the short series, which is the first since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Teams

India: G Gambhir, AM Rahane, V Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, SK Raina, RG Sharma, MS Dhoni, RA Jadeja, B Kumar, I Sharma, AB Dinda

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan

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Sachin Tendulkar announces retirement from ODIs

New Delhi:  Sachin Tendulkar will not pad up against Pakistan next Sunday. After 23 years of playing one-day internationals, the batting great has announced retirement from the 50-over format of the game. 

Sachin's announcement came on a day that the Indian team for the two T20s and three ODIs with Pakistan, to be played starting next week, is being decided. Sachin has already stopped playing T20s.

The Board of control for cricket in India (BCCI) released Sachin's statement on Sunday morning. It read, "I have decided to retire from the One Day format of the game. I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup wining Indian team. The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early and in right earnest. I would like to wish the team all the very best for the future. I am eternally grateful to all my well wishers for their unconditional support and love over the years."

Tendulkar's retirement plans have been intensely debated in recent times through a long patch of poor form. The most prolific run getter in the world ever is 39 years of age. He holds every batting record in the book.

Since last World Cup, Sachin score only 315 runs in 10 ODIs. But in a glorious career, Sachin has scored 18,426 runs in 463 one dayers. His highest score in ODIs is 200 runs that came in 2010 against South Africa in Gwalior. Sachin has scored 49 centuries and 96 fifties in this format. 

He made his debut on December 18, 1989, as a 16-year-old against Pakistan. He played his last ODI on March 18, 2012, also against Pakistan in the Asia Cup.

His last ODI hundred came in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in March this year, a feat that completed an unprecedented 100 international tons.

He was stuck on 99 tons for quite a while after scoring two hundreds during India's successful World Cup campaign. Tendulkar also has an mammoth tally of 96 ODI 50s to his credit.

Despite the slump in his form, Tendulkar's overall tally of runs is unlikely to be matched anytime soon given that the distant second-best in the list, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, has already retired from the game with 13,704 runs under his belt.

Sri Lanka's retired great Sanath Jayasuriya occupies the third spot in the overall chart with 13,430 runs.

Besides his batting, Tendulkar was an effective partnership-breaking bowler and finishes his ODI career with 154 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls.

Tendulkar's Test records are as awe-inspiring. The right-hander has 15,645 runs at an average of 54.32 in 194 Tests that he has played so far. The tally includes 51 hundreds and 66 half-centuries. 

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Mahela Jayawardene resigned as Sri Lanka’s Twenty20 captain

COLOMBO: Mahela Jayawardene resigned as Sri Lanka’s Twenty20 captain on Sunday, but insisted it had nothing to do with the 36-run defeat to the West Indies in the World T20 final.

“I had told the selectors before the tournament started that I won’t captain in T20 and they needed to groom someone else for the future,” Jayawardene told reporters after the final in Colombo.

Jayawardene, 35, will however continue as a player in the shortest format and will also lead in both Test and one-day cricket.

The accomplished batsman has scored 1,224 runs in 44 Twenty20 internationals at a strike rate of 133.77 per 100 balls.

The first world title for the West Indies since the 50-over World Cup triumph in 1979 also handed Sri Lanka their fourth defeat in a major final since 2007.

Sri Lanka have now lost two successive 50-over World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011 and two World Twenty20 finals in 2009 and 2012.

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Simon Taufel bids adieu to international umpiring

COLOMBO: Australian Simon Taufel on Sunday stood down from international umpiring after officiating in the World Twenty 20 final between Sri Lanka and West Indies at the R Premadasa Stadium.

It was an emotional moment for Taufel as he took the field to officiate for one last time. The 41-year-old had already announced that he would retire after World Twenty 20 to become the Umpire Performance and Training Manager with the ICC.

In an outstanding career, Taufel umpired in 74 Tests and 174 ODIs with his last Test and ODI appearances being at Lord's a month ago in matches featuring England and South Africa.

Taufel will be replaced by Bruce Oxenford in the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires from November 1.

Taufel won the ICC Umpire of the Year award for five successive years from 2004 to 2008.

Taufel along with Pakistan's Aleem Dar were the on-field umpires for the final between Sri Lanka and West Indies.

Taufel on Saturday termed the 2011 World Cup semifinal between India versus Pakistan as the "most exciting match" of his career.

"When I look back, there are many memorable moments but I can instantly remember the India versus Pakistan game at Mohali during the 2011 World Cup semifinal as the most exciting one," Taufel had said.

"The Prime Ministers of the two countries were present and it was more than just a game of cricket. I believe there were two finals in 2011 World Cup. The semifinal and the final," he added.

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Australia beat England to defend Women's World Twenty20

Australian women produced an impressive performance to edge out their English counterparts by four runs in an exciting final of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 here on Sunday.

Put into bat, Australia put up a competitive 142 for four in 20 overs with almost all the batswoman getting runs.

Jess Cameron with 45 was the top scorer but openers Meg Lanning (25), Alyssa Healey (26) and Lisa Sthalekar (23 not out) all chipped in with useful contributions.

In reply England could manage 138 for nine as Australian bowlers got wickets at regular intervals.

Needing 16 of the last over, England managed only 11 runs off spinner Erin Osborne’s over. England needed an over boundary of the last delivery but could manage a single as girls in canary yellow celebrated enthusiastically.

In a big ground like Premadasa (although boundaries were shortened), chasing a target of 143 is an uphill task in women’s cricket.

Although skipper Edwards showed positive intent but once she was dismissed for 28, the other batswomen could hardly make any impact.

They did get the boundaries but couldn’t stay long enough to get a decisive result in their favour.

Players like Sarah Taylor, Aaran Brindle all got starts but couldn’t carry on as left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen turned out to be the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 25.

She could have taken four had she not dropped a sharp return catch offered by Jenny Gunn.

The main wicket of Edwards was however taken by veteran Lisa Sthalekar.

While batting, Australia had two significant partnerships that clinched the issue in their favour. The opening partnership of 51 runs between Lanning and Healy and another of 51 runs in six overs between Sthalekar (23) and Cameron.

Cameron hit five fours and a six during his 34-ball knock.

Brief scores:

Australia: 142 for 4 in 20 overs (Jess Cameron 45, Alyssa Healey 26, Meg Lanning 25; Holly Colvin 2/21).

England: 138 for 9 in 20 overs (Charlotte Edwards 28; Jess Jonassen 3/25, Lisa Sthalekar 2/16).

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T20 champions league 2012 schedule

Champions League T20 Schedule cricketTournament will start on Oct 9, 2012 inSouth Africa. The last match of the tournament will be held on Oct 28, 2012.  The Champions League T20 schedule is prepared following the success of the IPL which allowed other teams from different similar tournaments like that of IPL to take part in this contest. The Champions League T20 fixtures is prepared keeping in mind the best interest of the players from different franchises of the countries. There are situations under the Champions League T20 time table where one player might be a part of two separate franchises; in such a case it’s either up to the player or a negotiable deal is drawn between both the parties to decide which franchise the player will represent under the Champions League Twenty20 schedule. The Champions League Twenty20 fixtures provide a solid platform for youngsters who have a lot of interest in the shorter format of the game to prove their mettle. Fortunately, there hasn't been any controversies regarding the Champions League T20 time table; this is probably due to the time gap between One day international tournaments that don’t invite a lot of criticism as far as the IPL critics are concerned; more over clt20 fixtures are held to involve stiff competition between participating franchises from different cricket playing nations. Much like IPL, the clt20 matches are filled with excitement; the difference between the two events may be the fact that all the IPL teams get a "home team" support at every venue since it’s held in India considering the fact that the franchises of IPL belong to India unlike the other participating franchises of the tournament. QUALIFIERS POOL A QUALIFIERS POOL B Hampshire Sialkot Stallions Auckland Aces Yorkshire Trinidad and Tobago Uva Next GROUP A GROUP B Kolkata Knight Riders Titans Perth Scorchers Delhi Daredevils Q1 Chennai Super Kings Highveld Lions Sydney Sixers Mumbai Indians Q2 Date and Time Match Details and Series Tue Oct 9  13:30 local | 11:30 GMT Qualifiers Pool 2 : 1st T20 - Uva Next vs Yorkshire  The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Tue Oct 9  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Qualifiers Pool 1 : 2nd T20 - Auckland Aces vs Sialkot Stallions  The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Wed Oct 10  13:30 local | 11:30 GMT Qualifiers Pool 1 : 3rd T20 - Auckland Aces vs Hampshire  SuperSport Park, Centurion Wed Oct 10  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Qualifiers Pool 2 : 4th T20 - Trinidad and Tobago vs Yorkshire  SuperSport Park, Centurion Thu Oct 11  13:30 local | 11:30 GMT Qualifiers Pool 2 : 5th T20 - Trinidad and Tobago vs Uva Next  The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Thu Oct 11  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Qualifiers Pool 1 : 6th T20 - Hampshire vs Sialkot Stallions  The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Sat Oct 13  13:30 local | 11:30 GMT Group A : 1st T20 - Titans vs Perth Scorchers  SuperSport Park, Centurion Sat Oct 13  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Group A : 2nd T20 - KKR vs DD  SuperSport Park, Centurion Sun Oct 14  13:30 local | 11:30 GMT Group B : 3rd T20 - CSK vs Sydney Sixers  The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Sun Oct 14  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Group B : 4th T20 - Highveld Lions vs Mumbai Indians  The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Mon Oct 15  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Group A : 5th T20 - KKR vs TBC  Newlands, Cape Town Tue Oct 16  13:30 local | 11:30 GMT Group B : 6th T20 - Sydney Sixers vs TBC  Newlands, Cape Town Tue Oct 16  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Group B : 7th T20 - CSK vs Highveld Lions  Newlands, Cape Town Wed Oct 17  13:30 local | 11:30 GMT Group A : 8th T20 - Titans vs TBC  Kingsmead, Durban Wed Oct 17  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Group A : 9th T20 - KKR vs Perth Scorchers  Kingsmead, Durban Thu Oct 18  13:30 local | 11:30 GMT Group B : 10th T20 - Highveld Lions vs Sydney Sixers  Newlands, Cape Town Thu Oct 18  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Group B : 11th T20 - Mumbai Indians vs TBC  Newlands, Cape Town Fri Oct 19  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Group A : 12th T20 - DD vs TBC  Kingsmead, Durban Sat Oct 20  13:30 local | 11:30 GMT Group B : 13th T20 - Highveld Lions vs TBC  The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Sat Oct 20  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Group B : 14th T20 - CSK vs Mumbai Indians  The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg Sun Oct 21  13:30 local | 11:30 GMT Group A : 15th T20 - Perth Scorchers vs DD  Newlands, Cape Town Sun Oct 21  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Group A : 16th T20 - KKR vs Titans  Newlands, Cape Town Mon Oct 22  13:30 local | 11:30 GMT Group B : 17th T20 - CSK vs TBC  Kingsmead, Durban Mon Oct 22  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Group B : 18th T20 - Sydney Sixers vs Mumbai Indians  Kingsmead, Durban Tue Oct 23  13:30 local | 11:30 GMT Group A : 19th T20 - Perth Scorchers vs TBC  SuperSport Park, Centurion Tue Oct 23  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Group A : 20th T20 - DD vs Titans  SuperSport Park, Centurion Thu Oct 25  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT 1st Semi Final T20 - TBC vs TBC  Kingsmead, Durban Fri Oct 26  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT 2nd Semi Final T20 - TBC vs TBC  SuperSport Park, Centurion Sun Oct 28  17:30 local | 15:30 GMT Final T20 - TBC vs TBC  The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Chennai Super Kings Highveld Lions Sydney Sixers Mumbai Indians Q2

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West Indies beat Australia by 74 runs and reach final

COLOMBO: Chris Gayle smashed an unbeaten 75 off 41 balls as the West Indies stormed into the World Twenty20 final with a record 74-run demolition of Australia in Colombo on Friday.

The left-hander pounded six sixes and five fours as the Windies piled up the tournament's highest total of 205-4 after electing to bat on what was regarded as a slow pitch unsuited to aggressive batting.

The Australians found the huge target too hot to handle and folded up for 131 in 16.4 overs at the Premadasa stadium in front of 28,000 awe-struck spectators still reeling from the West Indies innings.

Skipper George Bailey played a lone hand for the Aussies, making 63 off 29 balls with four sixes and six boundaries after adding 68 for the seventh wicket with Pat Cummins.

Darren Sammy's men take on hosts Sri Lanka in Sunday's final with both sides looking for their first World Twenty20 title.

The biggest Twenty20 win for the West Indies, surpassing their 70-run victory over Ireland in 2010, was celebrated by the entire team performing an energetic version of global hit "Gangnam Style" in the middle.

Gayle, who lost his opening partner Johnson Charles in the third over, plodded for nine balls to make four before swinging Shane Watson for a six over long-off.

That opened the floodgates for an onslaught as Marlon Samuels and Gayle smashed left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty for a six each in one over and Brad Hogg was greeted into the attack with another six from Samuels.

Samuels contributed 26 in a second-wicket stand of 41 with Gayle when he was bowled by Cummins attempting another big hit.

Gayle, who faced just 18 balls in the first 10 overs, still managed to bring up his half-century off 29 deliveries with the help of four sixes and three boundaries.

All-rounder Dwayne Bravo (37) helped Gayle add 83 for the third wicket from just 51 deliveries to propel the innings at a brisk pace.

Kieron Pollard hit 38 off 15 balls as the West Indies plundered 55 runs in the final three overs, including 25 off the last six deliveries by Doherty.

Doherty was the most expensive Australian bowler with 1-48 from three overs, while Watson went for 35 runs in four unsuccessful overs.

Australia never recovered after opener David Warner was bowled by spinner Samuel Badree with the sixth delivery and crashed to 43-6 by the eighth over.

Badree took two of those wickets and seamer Ravi Rampaul chipped in by removing Cameron White and the recalled David Hussey in the space of three balls.

Pollard dismissed Bailey and Cummins off successive deliveries in the 14th over to end Australia's resistance.

Both teams had met in a preliminary league match which was washed out after Australia reached 100-1 in 9.1 overs in pursuit of the West Indies' total of 191-8.

The Aussies were declared winners by 17 runs through the Duckworth-Lewis method.

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