Australians too strong for West Indies

ADELAIDE:Doug Bollinger took 4-28 as Australia trounced West Indies by eight wickets in the second one-day international to take a 2-0 lead in five-match series here today.

West Indies were bowled out for 170 in 39.4 with Dwayne Smith topscoring with 43. Shane Watson got Australia off to a good start in reply with 53 from 50 balls before being caught behind. Skipper Ricky Ponting hit an unbeaten 57 off 55 balls.

Bollinger did the early damage for Australia with

an opening spell of 3-9 off

five overs. Clint McKay finished with 2-33 while Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz and Watson were the other wicket-takers.

The tourists were immediately on the back foot when skipper Chris Gayle was dismissed for a first-ball duck after shuffling across the crease to a Bollinger delivery. The wickets of Travis Dowlin, Runako Morton and Lendl Simmons left the visitors in all sorts of trouble.

Denesh Ramdin and Narsingh Deonarine's 46-run partnership added some respectability to the scoreboard but the wickets kept falling at the wrong time for Windies.

Dwayne Smith and Ravi Rampaul, who added 37 together, decided aggression was the best way to counteract the Australians' pressure. Smith hit a straight six off McKay while Rampaul swung hard during his 22-ball 18. But a slight hesitation in the running between wickets saw Ponting run out Rampaul and the next ball Smith was caught by Mike Hussey.

Australia needed just 26.3 overs to reach their target. Watson and Ponting both hit two sixes as the hosts scored at more than run a ball. The only downside for Australia was a poor attendance for the second successive game but Bollinger afterwards insisted that 50-over cricket remained a viable format.