Sarwan... 72 not out. - DellmarCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC:
THE WEST Indies lost their Champions Trophy warm-up match by six wickets to Australia in spite of half centuries by Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul at the Police Park Ground yesterday.
Sent to bat, the Caribbean side posted 261 for six off their 50 overs, and Australia - behind Damien Martyn's attacking 82 - achieved victory at 265 for four off 48.5 overs.
Sarwan top scored for the West Indies with 72 not out and Chanderpaul struck 56 but their efforts were not enough in the 13-a-side tune-up for the 'Mini World Cup' tournament starting this week.
The West Indies made a promising start as Chris Gayle and Chanderpaul posted 60 for the first wicket, with the tall Jamaican left-hander belting a punishing 45 off just 30 balls with 10 boundaries.
Chanderpaul counted seven boundaries in his half-century knock that came off 94 balls.
World batting record holder Brian Lara was caught behind by Adam Gilchrist off pacer Andy Bichel for four and captain Carl Hooper contributed 27, and the innings was reinforced near the end through a 72-run fifth wicket stand between Sarwan and Wavell Hinds.
Sarwan's stroke-filled 72 came off only 63 balls and contained five boundaries, while Hinds got a 36-ball 32 with two sixes and one four.
Fast bowler Vasbert Drakes, returning to international cricket for the first time in seven years, and off-spinner Hooper were the best of the West Indies bowlers in a futile attempt to contain the star-studded Australian batting line up.
Hooper bowled a tidy 10 overs and claimed one for 30, while Drakes picked up one for 25 off 6.5 overs, removing Australian captain Ricky Ponting (27) to a fine catch by Ryan Hinds at point.
Martyn struck nine boundaries in his 82 off 88 balls while posting 110 in an unfinished fifth wicket with Michael Bevan (53) as the Australians secured victory with seven balls to spare.
The West Indies begin their Champions Trophy bid tonight (Caribbean Time) against South Africa in a Pool 3 match, and they face Kenya on Monday in their second match.
Pool winners will advance to the September 25 and 27 semi-finals before the final on September 29.
Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh are in Pool 1, England, India and Zimbabwe comprise Pool 2, and Pool 4 has Pakistan, Sri Lanka and The Netherlands.
The tournament begins 3.30 a.m. (Jamaica time) this morning with hosts Sri Lanka tackling Pakistan in a day/night fixture (See preview B3).
SCOREBOARD
(13-a-side, 11 bat, 11 field)
West Indies innings
C. Gayle b Bichel 45
S. Chanderpaul retired 56
B. Lara c Gilchrist b Bichel 4
C. Hooper c Gilchrist b Warne 27
R. Sarwan not out 72
W. Hinds c Bevan b Martyn 32
R. Morton lbw Bichel 3
R. Jacobs not out 5
Extras (b4, lb1, w12) 17
TOTAL (six wkts - 50 overs) 261
Fall: 1-60, 2-66, 3-143, 4-143, 5-215, 6-233.
Bowling: Gillespie 5-0-38-0 (3w); Bichel 7-0-50-3 (6w); Watson 7-2-32-0 (1w); Martyn 7-1-36-1; Lehmann 8-1-35-0;
Hauritz 10-0-48-0 (2w); Warne 6-0-17-1.
Australia innings
A. Gilchrist c Jacobs b Collymore 42
M. Hayden c Chanderpaul b Collins 3
R. Ponting c sub (R. Hinds) b Drakes 27
D. Martyn not out 82
D. Lehmann st Jacobs b Hooper 34
M. Bevan not out 53
Extras (b4, lb3, w9, nb8) 24
TOTAL (four wkts - 48.5 overs) 265
Fall: 1-22, 2-83, 3-83, 4-155
Bowling: Dillon 7-1-38-0 (1nb, 3w); Collins 5-0-37-1 (3nb); Drakes 6.5-1-25-1; Collymore 5-0-32-1 (2nb); Nagamootoo 7-0-44-0; Hooper 10-1-30-1 (4w); Gayle 8-0-52-0.
Result: Australia won by six wickets.
