Aussies Breeze By Windies

Australia maintained their winning run by comfortably defeating the West indies by 113 runs in the first one-day international at Melbourne

The win keeps alive the Aussies' hopes of going through the entire 2009/10 summer unbeaten at home.

Ricky Ponting's side have already whitewashed the Windies and Pakistan in Test series, as well as clean-sweeping Pakistan 5-0 in the recent one-day series.

And that record showed no signs of being in danger on Sunday as Australia made 256 for eight from their 50 overs, before skittling their opponents for just 143.

The visitors' skipper Chris Gayle only lasted until the first ball of the third over when he fell for seven after a superb catch by Mitchell Johnson at mid-off from the bowling of Doug Bollinger.
Wickets

Ryan Harris then claimed Runako Morton (3) and Bollinger struck again in dismissing Travis Dowlin (1), as the Windies slumped to 12 for three inside five overs.

Harris, who came into the match off the back of a superb series against Pakistan, continued his fine form since returning to the Australian side by finishing with three for 24.

The victory could have been even more crushing if it was not for the efforts of West Indian all-rounder Kieron Pollard, who took his career-best one-day figures of three for 45 before contributing a top-score of 31 with the bat.

Lendl Simmons (29) and Narsingh Deonarine (19) also provided some middle-order resistance but it proved to be to no avail.

Pollard's dismissal in the 25th over - again caught by Johnson at long-on off the bowling of Nathan Hauritz - ended any slim hopes the Windies held of a late comeback.

Early runs

Earlier in the day at the MCG, Shane Watson celebrated his 100th one-day international appearance by opening the innings with a top score of 59.

Captain Ponting also contributed 49 from third in the batting order, as the Aussies raced out to 118 for one after 25 overs.

Watson's half-century came off 65 balls with six boundaries, although he had a big scare just before bringing it up when he was almost run out on 49 as he attempted to scramble back to his crease after slipping over mid-pitch.

However, Gayle fumbled the ball at the bowler's end when a clean take would have seen Watson run out by yards and the all-rounder safely made it home.

Despite a second-wicket stand of 85, the West Indies threatened to dismiss the hosts for a realistic target when Pollard bowled Ponting before capturing the wicket of Michael Clark for 18.

But Michael Hussey (28) and Johnson (21) added some more runs at the end of the innings, before the West Indies' top order collapsed in their attempt to make a fast start.