The kings capitulate

The West Indian tour of Australia grows more embarrassing every match. Yesterday it was the turn of a scratch invitation side led by a retired Test captain to put the former "kings of cricket" to the sword.

The 58-run defeat against the Prime Minister's XI at Canberra's Manuka Oval was the sixth straight defeat in Australia for the West Indies, who trail 2-0 in the five-Test series against the host nation and have lost both their opening matches in the World Series limited-overs tournament.

The Prime Minister's XI of Sheffield Shield players, led by the former Australian captain Allan Border, scored 258 for 8 from their 50 overs. They then restricted the West Indies to 200 for 9 from 43.4 overs. The last man, Patterson Thompson, was injured and unable to bat.

Brad Young took 4 for 46 for the Prime Minister's XI while the all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who is at the centre of an eligibility row between Australia and England, made his contribution with 2 for 7 from 10 balls at the end of the innings, after earlier scoring 33 before being run out.

Robert Samuels was the top scorer for the West Indies, making 45 using a runner, while Brian Lara managed 32 before being bowled by Young.

Ian Harvey was named man-of-the-match after he scored 55 not out from 41 balls and also took a wicket. The Australian Test aspirant Matthew Hayden made 45 and shared an opening partnership of 113 with Dene Hills, who scored 52.

The West Indies captain, Courtney Walsh, was disappointed again with the quality of his side's batting, claiming that players who reached twenty should have made fifty.

"It was a good game of cricket but we didn't play well. Our batting didn't have any conviction or confidence," he said.

The veteran fast bowler said his side conceded about 30 runs because of poor fielding. "The way we are playing at the moment, we can't afford to give anything away," Walsh added. The West Indies next play Australia A in a day-night match in Melbourne on Friday.

TOUR MATCH (Canberra, One day): Australian Prime Minister's XI 258 for 8 (50 overs, I Harvey 55no); West Indies 200 for 9 (43.4 overs). Prime Minister's XI won by 58 runs.