Australia on top as West Indies falter

Kingstown (St Vincent): Half-centuries from Shaun Marsh and Brad Haddin helped Australia set West Indies 274 for victory in the first One-day International on Tuesday.
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Marsh scored 81 on his debut and Haddin hit an even 50 to propel Australia to 273 for eight from their allocated 50 overs, after they were sent in on a hard, slow Arnos Vale Sports Complex pitch under cloudy skies.

Marsh struck seven fours and one six from 97 balls to give Australia early momentum. He shared 75 for the first wicket with Shane Watson, but the visitors' innings was at the crossroads when they declined to 140 for four in the 31st over.

Haddin entered and struck four fours and one six from 52 balls. He joined Mike Hussey at the crease, and they put the Aussies back on track with a stand of 91 for the fifth wicket before he was one of four wickets that tumbled in the closing overs as the visitors chased quick runs.

Darren Sammy was the most successful West Indies bowler with two wickets for 31 runs from seven balls.

Watson, playing for Australia for the first time since the final of the World Cup last year at Bridgetown, looked solid until he played across a well-pitched delivery from Dwayne Bravo and was adjudged lbw for 31 in the 13th over.

Australia's batsmen tried to maintain the frenetic scoring rate set by their openers, but West Indies claimed three wickets to get back into the match.

Ricky Ponting was bowled for six, when he dragged a ball from Jerome Taylor on to his stumps in the 19th over.

Michael Clarke chased a wide ball from Sammy and was caught behind for nine in the 25th over.

And Marsh was caught at cover off Sammy, when he drove a slower ball straight into the lap of West Indies captain Chris Gayle in the 31st over.

Haddin came to the wicket and turned things around for the Aussies with some enterprising batting.

But he was caught at long-off off Sulieman Benn in the 45th over, and Hussey fell in similar fashion in the 48th over for 44 from 58 balls to expose the Australian tail.

Cameron White was lbw to Sarwan for eight in the 49th over, and James Hopes was bowled by Bravo for nine off the third-last ball of the innings in the late flourish.