Aussies beat World XI by 93 runs in Super Series opener

MELBOURNE—Fast bowler Shane Watson took three wickets and Simon Katich scored 58 as Australia defeated a World XI by 93 runs in the first of the three Super Series one-day internationals here Wednesday.
Batting first after winning the toss, Australia scored 255 for eight wickets in 50 overs, thanks to fine knocks by Katich, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds and Mike Hussey.
New Zealand's left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori captured four wickets for 33 in 10 overs to emerge as the most successful bowler for the World XI. Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan bagged two scalps.
In reply, the World XI, led by former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock, folded up for 162 in 41.3 overs as Watson took three for 43 in 10 overs and Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath each bagging two.
Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Kumara Sangakkara top scored for the World XI with 64 as the top order flopped miserably. Only Andrew Flintoff, later in the order, managed to put up some resistance with 38.
There were two Indians — Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag — in the World XI squad, but both failed to get going.
The Super Series has been organised by the International Cricket Council and the match was held under floodlights of the fully covered Telstra Dome, though the wonder stadium was not packed to the hilt.
The second one-dayer of the series will be played at the same venue Friday and the third and final game Sunday.
The Super Series also comprises a six-day Super Test that will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from Oct. 14.

Scoreboard
 

Australia: A. Gilchrist b Kallis 45 S. Katich c and b Muralitharan 58 R. Ponting c Lara b Pollock 23 D. Martyn c Vettori b Muralitharan 0 A. Symonds c Flintoff b Vettori 36 M. Clarke c and b Vettori 6 M. Hussey c Pietersen b Vettori 32 S. Watson c Lara b Vettori 8 B. Lee not out 26 N. Bracken not out 2 Extras: (b2, lb6, w6, nb5) 19 Total: (for 8 wkts, 50 overs) 255 Fall of Wickets: 1-80, 2-128, 3-128, 4-142, 5-154, 6-206, 7-223, 8-231 Bowling: O-M-R-W Shoaib Akhtar 9-1-49-0 Shaun Pollock 8-1-32-1 Andrew Flintoff 9-1-66-0 Jacques Kallis 4-0-26-1 Muttiah Muralitharan 10-0-41-2 Daniel Vettori 10-1-33-4

World XI: K. Sangakkara c Ponting b Watson 65 V. Sehwag c Hussey b McGrath 6 J. Kallis lbw b McGrath 8 B. Lara c Symonds b Bracken 0 R. Dravid c Ponting b Lee 4 K. Pietersen lbw b Watson 2 A. Flintoff c McGrath b Watson 38 Shahid Afridi lbw b Symonds 2 S. Pollock run out (Watson) 5 D. Vettori c Ponting b Lee 15 Shoaib Akhtar not out 10 Extras: (lb1, w6, nb1) 8 Total: (All out, 41.3 overs) 162 Fall of Wickets: 1-18, 2-45, 3-50, 4-75, 5-82, 6-101, 7-104, 8-118, 9-150 Bowling: O-M-R-W Brett Lee 7.3-2-31-2 Glenn McGrath 7-1-13-2 Nathan Bracken 8-0-36-1 Shane Watson 10-0-43-3 Andrew Symonds 9-0-38-1

—Agencies