Watson sets up Australia victory

Dubai: Australian allrounder Shane Watson, playing in his 100th one-day international match, made it a memorable outing by bagging the man of the match award and steering his team to a 113-run win over West Indies at the Melbourne cricket ground yesterday.

Watson opened the innings and top-scored with an elegant 59 and then returned to take a wicket and pull off a good catch to play a pivotal role in the victory.

West Indies elected to field after winning the toss. Watson, however, had other ideas, starting off in whirlwind fashion alongside Shaun Marsh. The pair put on 50 runs before Marsh was caught behind by Denesh Ramdin off Dwayne Smith for 20.

Skipper Ricky Ponting then joined Watson and put on 85 runs for the second wicket. West Indies skipper Chris Gayle finally sent back Watson after he had scored 59 off 74 balls with three boundaries.

At the score on 144, Ponting too departed, clean bowled by Kieron Pollard for 49. His knock came off 61 balls with a single boundary and two sixes. Pollard struck again soon after, dismissing Michael Clarke for 18.

Competitive total

However, the in-form Michael Hussey hit a quick 28 and Cameron White chipped in with 22 runs to steady the boat.

Pollard later had Brad Haddin caught and bowled for 8 and Australia's innings ended at 256 for 8 in the 50 overs.

West Indies began their chase badly losing Gayle for just seven runs. Doug Bollinger had the Windies captain caught by Johnson with the score on 11 and one run later Runako Morton too fell caught behind of Ryan Harris for 3.

Bollinger struck again to dismiss Travis Dowlin for 1. Narsingh Deonarine and Lendl Simmons took the score to 44 runs before Johnson dismissed Deonarine for 19. Pollard and Simons steered West Indies past the 100-run mark but Nathan Hauritz dismissed Pollard for 31.

Watson had Simmons caught behind for 29 and West Indies innings folded up for 143 in just 34.2 overs.

Brief scores

Australia beat West Indies by 113 runs.

Australia 256 for 8 in 50 in 50 overs (Shane Watson 59, Kieron Pollard 3 for 45) West Indies 143 in 34.2 overs (Kieron Pollard 31, Ryan Harris 3 for 24, Nathan Hauritz 3 for 28).

Man of the Match: Shane Watson.