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Brian Lara and Chris Gayle put Australia to the sword on Monday with a controlled display of batting that handed the West Indies a three-wicket victory in their one-day DLF Cup match here.

Their heroics cancelled out a gutsy maiden one-day century by Australia’s stand-in captain Michael Hussey whose unbeaten 109 gave his side a defendable 272-6. But it was a nailbiting climax as the West Indies lost four wickets for 13 runs late in the innings before clawing their way home.

Lara (87) and Gayle (79) put together a 151-run partnership built on some sloppy Australian bowling, particularly by Stuart Clark who was hit for 87 from seven overs, as they reached their target in 47.2 overs. Australia sorely missed Mitchell Johnson, the explosive young fast bowler who demolished India on Saturday but who was one of three Australians sent home because their squad was considered too big.

Glenn McGrath was also mysteriously rested after just two games on his comeback trail. It left Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken to spearhead the attack, with Clark, Shane Watson and Dan Cullen in support.

The West Indies didn’t get the start they wanted with Shivnarine Chanderpaul falling for nought to Lee. Ramnaresh Sarwan whacked a rapid 25 before he was caught behind by wicket-keeper Brad Haddin off Bracken.

It brought Lara into the action and he was happy to be a bystander as Gayle unleashed his fury against a hapless Clark in the 15th over, savaging him for 20 runs. The introduction of Watson and Andrew Symonds stemmed the flow but didn’t prevent Gayle bringing up his 27th one-day 50, and his second in the tournament, with a front-foot drive.

And the re-introduction of Clark saw the runs come again — he bowled one 11-ball over that cost 23 runs. Gayle finally went pulling a short one through midwicket off Watson where it was safely gathered by Hussey, ending an attractive innings that included three sixes and seven fours.

Lara reached his 60th limited-overs 50 with a scampered single off Cullen but fell 13 short of his first century in 18 months when he miscued an attempted pull shot off Lee and found Hussey’s safe hands. The fall of Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Smith in quick succession caused some nerves to fray before Dwyane Bravo and Carlton Baugh ensured the West Indies a second victory from three games here. Lee finished with 3-26.

Earlier, Hussey smashed a ton, coming to the crease with Australia struggling on 64-4 off 18 overs to pilot his side to a respectable score. He was aided by Haddin, who contributed a quick-fire 70.

Ian Bradshaw was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2-35 off his 10 overs. Matthew Hayden scored 49 after a year away from the international one-day game.

Australia won toss

Australia

M L Hayden c Taylor b Bravo 49

S M Katich run out (Bradshaw/Baugh) 22

S R Watson c Lara b Taylor 0

A Symonds c Smith b Bradshaw 8

M J Clarke c Gayle b Bradshaw 1

*M E K Hussey not out 109

†B J Haddin c Taylor b Bravo 70

B Lee not out 1

Extras (b1, lb5, w6) 12

Total (6 wkts, 50 overs) 272

Did not bat: S R Clark, N W Bracken, D J Cullen

Fall: 1-41, 2-42, 3-57, 4-64, 5-104, 6-269

Bowling: Taylor 10-0-53-1 (2w); Bradshaw 10-0-35-2 (1w); Gayle 7-0-46-0 (1w); Smith 7-0-38-0; Samuels 7-0-42-0; Bravo 9-1-52-2 (2w)

West Indies

C H Gayle c Hussey b Watson 79

S Chanderpaul c Haddin b Lee 0

R R Sarwan c Haddin b Bracken 25

*B C Lara c Hussey b Lee 87

D J Bravo not out 37

W W Hinds c Haddin b Lee 1

M N Samuels run out (Clarke) 0

D R Smith b Symonds 4

†C S Baugh not out 7

Extras (lb6, w16, nb11) 33

Total (7 wkts, 47.2 overs) 273

Did not bat: I D R Bradshaw, J E Taylor

Fall: 1-12, 2-44, 3-195, 4-242, 5-249, 6-249, 7-255

Bowling: Lee 10-0-46-3 (3nb); Bracken 9-0-31-1 (4w); Clark 7-0-87-0 (7nb, 3w); Watson 10-0-42-1 (4w); Symonds 5.2-0-27-1; Cullen 6-1-34-0 (1nb, 3w)

Result: West Indies won by 3 wickets

Points: West Indies 4, Australia 0

Man of the Match: Michael Hussey

Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and A L Hill (New Zealand). TV umpire: M R Benson (England). Match referee: B C Broad (England)

Previous matches: September 12 Kuala Lumpur, d/n, Australia beat West Indies by 78 runs. September 14 Kuala Lumpur, d/n, West Indies beat India by 29 runs (D/L Method). September 16 Kuala Lumpur, d/n, Australia v India no result

Next match: Thursday (tomorrow) India v West Indies

Remaining matches: September 22 Australia v India. September 24 Final. All matches at Kinrara Academy Oval, Kuala Lumpur, and day/night fixtures
Source:The News