Cricket: W Indies unable to stop the rot

Australia 249-6 West Indies 225 Australia win by 24 runs

Australia yesterday dealt a further blow to the West Indies' morale, inflicting on them a third successive defeat in the World Series limited- overs competition.

Australia won an enthralling encounter by 24 runs despite a vastly-improved performance by the tourists in cold and blustery conditions, in front of more than 43,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In reply to Australia's 249 for 6 from their 50 overs, the West Indies subsided to 225 all out in 49.1 overs and are still searching for their first win in this triangular competition, which also features Sri Lanka.

Despite the defeat, the West Indies batsmen showed glimpses of form after their dismal display in losing by 121 runs against Australia in Adelaide on Sunday.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, promoted to No 3 in the batting order, led the resistance with a fine 73, his highest score in a one-day international; but the West Indies' hopes of ending their losing streak disappeared with the total on 166 in the 41st over when Chanderpaul skied a return catch to the left-arm wrist spinner Michael Bevan for the fifth wicket to fall.

Mark Taylor and the all-rounder, Stuart Law, had earlier hammered half- centuries in a fourth-wicket partnership worth 118 runs to pave the way for Australia's big total.

Australia have won both their World Series matches to date while Sri Lanka are also unbeaten after winning their opening match against the West Indies on Friday.

(Australia won toss)

AUSTRALIA

*M A Taylor c Hooper b Simmons 63

M J Slater c Richardson b Ambrose 2

M E Waugh run out 15

R T Ponting c Browne b Walsh 6

S G Law st Browne b Hooper 74

M G Bevan not out 44

S Lee c Chanderpaul b Ambrose 3

I A Healy not out 34

Extras (lb4 w2 nb2) 8

Total (for 6, 50 overs) 249

Did not bat: S K Warne, C J McDermott, M S Kasprowicz.

Fall: 1-6 2-39 3-46 4-164 5-172 6-181.

Bowling: Ambrose 10-1-36-2; Walsh 9-0-32-1; Cummins 6-0-40-0; Simmons 6-0-31-1; Harper 10-1-46-0; Hooper 9-0-60-1.

WEST INDIES

S L Campbell c Ponting b Kasprowicz 2

S C Williams lbw b Lee 44

S Chanderpaul c and b Bevan 73

P V Simmons c McDermott b M Waugh 24

C L Hooper c Healy b Bevan 10

*R B Richardson c Law b McDermott 15

R A Harper st Healy b Warne 15

C O Browne run out 2

A C Cummins not out 26

C E L Ambrose b McDermott 1

C A Walsh c Healy b Warne 1

Extras (lb9 w1 nb2) 12

Total (49.1 overs) 225

Fall: 1-5 2-84 3-125 4-147 5-166 6-177 8-213 9-224.

Bowling: McDermott 10-0-40-2; Kasprowicz 6-0-32-1 (w1 nb2); Lee 10-1- 40-1; Warne 9.1-1-41-2; M Waugh 6-0-32-1; Bevan 8-0-31-2.