Aussies outplays Windies for maiden Trophy

New Delhi—Much of the Champions Trophy matches provided dramatic twists and turns, and the final was no exception.
World champions Australia produced yet another top-notch performance to outclass their opponents and defending champions West Indies by a resounding eight wickets at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, to win their maiden Champions Trophy title.
After folding out for a meagre 138 in under 31 overs, the Windies were never in the game even after the fast bowlers did get two early wickets. Opening batsman Shane Watson (57 not out) and Damien Martyn (47 not out) saw their side home without much difficulty after rains halted play for about two hours.
The Windies story was about their dismal batting collapse, more so than anything else as a start of nine runs an over by Chris Gayle was thrown away by the middle and lower order batsmen.
West Indies could only hope to give the Australians a jitter or two to get to their target of 138, and so they did when explosive opener Adam Gilchrist was out caught in the slips with the score at 12, Ian Bradshaw doing the damage up front.
The ball surprisingly was thrown to Chris Gayle to begin the proceedings, but five runs coming off it made Brian Lara change his mind to give Bradshaw a go.
Jerome Taylor, who shared the new ball with Gayle, followed Bradshaw’s breakthrough with a scorcher to dismiss Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting without troubling the scorers, with the ball nipping back in sharply to trap him leg before with only two runs added to the total.
But the arrival of Damien Martyn calmed the Aussie nerves in the middle, the batsman taking the pressure off with some exquisite boundaries.
Shane Watson didn’t hang back from then on either, taking advantage of some loose bowling by the Windies pacers, and the Aussies going in to the break with 45 runs on the board from 10 overs.
However, whether it could be deemed rescue or not, rains lashed the Brabourne Stadium while the teams were still taking their break, and though it was earlier thought to be just passing showers, it continued well into a good part of the other side of the evening’s play.
If the day was to be marred by rains and no further play could be possible, then the sides would take their place on Monday and continue from the stage at which the game was disrupted.—Agencies