West Indies skipper Chris Gayle won the toss and to everyone’s surprise, opted to ball first on what seemed like a perfectly good batting wicket. The decision backfired for the tourists as Ponting (106 off 112 balls) notched up his 29^th ODI hundred to help Australia post a mammoth 324 for 7 and ensure that they remain unbeaten this summer.

Ponting smashed six fours and two sixes in a dominant display, and put on 131 for the third wicket with Cameron White, who scored 63 off 78 balls.

A late assault by James Hopes (42 off 21 balls) and Mike Hussey (23 off 17) ensured Australia surpassed the 300-mark.

Chasing an imposing target of 325, the tourists’ run chase finished well short on 274-8 despite half-centuries from Narsingh Deonarine (53), Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Smith. Pollard top-scored for the West Indies with 62 off 55 balls and, along with Dwayne Smith (58 not out), combined for a 102-run partnership but it wasn’t enough as the tourists fell short by 50-runs.

Australian fast bowlers Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris took two wickets each, with Bollinger dismissing Gayle yet again.

The third game of the series was abandoned due to rain, and one left to be played is in Melbourne on February 19.

Match Summary:

Australia 7 for 324 (Ponting 106, White 63) beat West Indies 8 for 274 (Deonarine 53, Pollard 62, Smith 58*) by 50 runs

Man of the Match: Ricky Ponting

The National Selection Panel said that the decision has been taken to manage the workloads of both Watson and Haddin, keeping in mind the domestic summer season and upcoming tour of New Zealand.

The third match of the five-match series will be played on Friday in Sydney and fourth in Brisbane on Sunday.

“After a busy international summer, and with an upcoming tour of New Zealand in mind, the NSP has taken the opportunity to manage the workloads of Brad Haddin and Shane Watson for the next two matches of the Commonwealth Bank Series. Tim Paine and Adam Voges are the players added to the (13-man) squad,” said the statement released by the NSP.

“Paine thoroughly deserves another chance behind the stumps for Australia in ODI cricket after playing so well in England, the ICC Champions Trophy and India late last year. Voges was unlucky to miss selection for the opening two matches of the Commonwealth Bank Series against the West Indies but now has a chance to press for selection,” NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said in the statement.

Chasing a very gettable target of 257 to win, Chris Gayle’s men were bowled out for 143 in the 35th over. Fast bowler Ryan Harris and off spinner Nathan Hauritz continued their brilliant form with the ball, scalping three-wickets each for 24 and 28 runs respectively.

The visitors were never in the game except for the 64-run stand between Kieron Pollard (31) and Lendl Simmons (29) in the middle order, but once that was broken by Hauritz and Shane Watson at the halfway mark, the game was all but over for the West Indies.

Earlier, Watson, playing in his 100th one-day international for Australia, top scored with 59 as the home team failed to build on a great start provided to it by Watson and skipper Ricky Ponting. Australia looked well on their way to notching up a score in excess of 300 when they reached 118 for one after 25 overs, but thanks to Pollard, the home side could manage only 256.

Watson and Ponting’s 85-run stand was the highest of the match as Watson, who has taken eight years to bring up his 100-game milestone in one-day internationals, reached 50 in the 23rd over while Ponting fell just short when bowled by Pollard for 49.

Talking about the team’s performance after the game, Gayle said, “It’s very disappointing this is not the start we wanted, it’s a terrible display. The way we go about our batting is our biggest downfall.”

“I thought we did pretty well with the ball… the wicket was a bit slower than when the Australians were batting, but I thought we should have got 257. We thought we were capable, but we fell well short,” ABC Sport quoted Gayle, as saying.

The third test between Australia and West Indies was marred with some very ugly incidents, which left three Australian players fined and one West Indian banned for two ODIs.

All-rounder Shane Watson was fined 15 per cent of his match fee for his over-the-top celebration after he dismissed rival skipper Chris Gayle in the second innings on Saturday. Earlier, wicket-keeper batsman Brad Haddin and fast bowler Mitchell Johnson were also fined for their ugly altercation with West Indies spinner Sulieman Benn, who was banned for two one-day matches.

Before that, Australian fast bowler, Doug Bollinger, was fined in Adelaide for kicking the pitch during the second test match. The behaviour of the Australian players invited wide spread criticism and Ponting said that he will make sure that the same mistakes are not repeated again when they start their series against Pakistan.

“I know all the guys are a bit embarrassed probably and know they’ve overstepped the mark. It’s one of my responsibilities as the captain to make sure that guys aren’t overstepping the mark. This week when we get down to Melbourne as a group together it will happen in our first team meeting, we will go over some of the events of this week,” Ponting was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

However, Shane Watson, who was fined for his wild celebrations after he dismissed Chris Gayle, justified his actions, saying that he was provoked by Gayle, thus that send off.

“There was a bit of build up to it, so it’s always nice to get Chris Gayle out, he’s obviously one of the most devastating batsmen in the world at the moment.  He definitely let me know that he was keen for me to come on to bowl leading up to that, so it was very nice to get him out first ball,” he was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph. “That was the catalyst for me celebrating the way I did. I know there’s a line and I was extremely happy to get him out, I normally don’t celebrate to that extent when I get someone out.”

“But when he baits me, talking about wanting me to come on to bowl to be able to take me down, it’s always very nice to get the upper hand,” the all-rounder added.

Gayle, who was named the player of the match and series, also took a dig at Watson’s conduct, saying he was not surprised by that. “Shane is that sort of person. I didn’t expect anything better. That is typically Watson. He is a passionate person. He expresses himself and sometimes he may overdo it,” he said.

Chasing 359, West Indies were struggling, having being reduced to 68 for 3 at lunch with Chris Gayle, Travis Dowlin and Ramnaresh Sarwan back in the pavilion. Narsingh Deonarine was unbeaten on 12 and Brendan Nash was accompanying him at the crease.

Earlier, West Indies picked up the remaining two wickets off the Australian innings in just 27 balls to bowl the home team out for 150. This is Australia’s lowest completed innings score since 2004 when India had bowled them out for 93.

The hosts, who started 345 runs ahead on the fourth day, lost the debutant Clint McKay in the second over when he hit one off Sulieman Benn to point on 10. Hauritz wasn’t able to build on his overnight score of 11 and was the last man out when he edged to first slip, becoming Dwayne Bravo’s fourth victim. Bravo’s three wickets kept his side in the game on the third day and he collected 4 for 42 while Benn finished with 3 for 29.

Match Summary:

At Lunch, West Indies 312 & 3 for 68 need 291 runs to beat Australia 7 for 520 dec & 150 (Bravo 4-42)

Bollinger (5 for 70) and Hauritz (3 for 66) shared 8 wickets between them. Australia, however, did not enforce the follow-on and decided to bat again. They were 52 for 1 at tea having extended their lead to 260 runs with still more than 2 days remaining in the game. Shane Watson was at the crease on 20 and giving him company was Michael Clarke on 16. Simon Katich was the only man dismissed for 10 by Ravi Rampaul.

Earlier, West Indies resumed on their overnight score of 214 for 2 but couldn’t make use of the good start provided by their top order. Ramnaresh Sarwan was the first to go on the third day, with Bollinger striking on the second ball of the day, as Sarwan edged a full length delivery outside the off stump to be caught by Hussey at gully for 42.

Deonarine was the next man dismissed, with Watson taking a brilliant diving catch at short cover off a rising Johnson delivery. The Windies were 280/4 at the lunch break.

Things went haywire after lunch with the tourists losing their last six wicket for just 27 runs. Bollinger started the collapse by picking up a wicket with his sixth ball after lunch when Dwayne Bravo (26) got an edge to one angling across him and the Brad Haddin didn’t make any mistake behind the wickets. Hauritz then accounted for the resilient Brendan Nash (44) getting him to edge to Clarke at first slip.

Hauritz then removed Sulieman Benn and Rampaul to catches behind the wicket in the same over. Bollinger followed it up by castling the leg stump of Denesh Ramdin giving him his fifth breakthrough and ending the Windies innings.

Match Summary:

At tea on Day 3, Australia 7 for 520 dec & 1 for 52 lead West Indies 312 (Gayle 102, Dowlin 55, Bollinger 5-70) by 260 runs

Gayle took just 70 balls to reach his hundred, bringing it up with a six off Nathan Hauritz. He hit six sixes and nine fours in his 72-ball innings of 102 before falling to a tame dismissal off the bowling of Doug Bollinger. Gayle’s opening partner, Travis Dowlin, provided able support to his skipper, scoring a patient 55 off 116 balls before falling to Mitchell Johnson. The two openers added 136 runs in just 24.1 overs.

Former skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan and Narsingh Deonarine were at the crease at close of play on Day 2, batting on 42 and 10 respectively.

Earlier, Australia declared their first innings at 520 for 7 after wicket-keeper Brad Haddin made a stylish 88. Resuming at the overnight score of 339 for 3, the hosts lost the well set Michael Hussey after he had added just one to his overnight score of 81. He was caught behind the wicket off Ravi Rampaul. His unbeaten partner, Marcus North, meanwhile completed his half century starting on 23 not out.

North put together a quick 89 runs partnership off just 16.5 overs for the sixth wicket with Brad Haddin to put the Aussies in command before he was dismissed for 68, caught and bowled off N Deonarine. Mitchell Johnson then chipped in with a cameo of 35 off 45 balls, which included 3 fours and 1 six.

N Deonarine was the most successful West Indian bowler, finishing with figures of 2 for 74.

Match Summary:

End of Day 2, West Indies 2 for 214 (Gayle 102, Dowlin 55) trail Australia 7 for 520 dec by 240 runs

Gayle looked in sublime touch reaching his half-century with a six. He was batting on 52 off 34 balls, which included 8 fours and a six, while his opening partner Travis Dowlin was batting on 15 in West Indies score of 69 for no loss off just 12 overs.

Earlier, Australia declared their first innings at 520 for 7 after wicket-keeper Brad Haddin made a stylish 88. Resuming at the overnight score of 339 for 3, the hosts lost the well set Michael Hussey after he had added just one to his overnight score of 81. He was caught behind the wicket off Ravi Rampaul. His unbeaten partner, Marcus North, meanwhile completed his half century starting on 23 not out.

North put together a quick 89 runs partnership off just 16.5 overs for the sixth wicket with Brad Haddin to put the Aussies in command before he was dismissed for 68, caught and bowled off N Deonarine. Mitchell Johnson then chipped in with a cameo of 35 off 45 balls, which included 3 fours and 1 six.

N Deonarine was the most successful West Indian bowler finishing with figures of 2 for 74.

Match Summary: At tea West Indies 0 for 69 (Gayle 52*) trail Australia 7 for 520 dec (Katich 99, Watson 89, Haddin 88, Hussey 82, North 68) by 451 runs

At stumps, Michael Hussey was batting on a well compiled 81 while Marcus North was giving him company on 23. Australia skipper Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first. Shane Watson and Simon Katich gave their team a solid start once again, adding 132 for the first wicket.

Watson smashed 89 runs off just 130 balls, which included 15 fours, before he was dismissed caught behind off the bowling of Kemar Roach. Skipper Ricky Ponting was the next man in and he had to retire hurt on 23 after being hit on his elbow by a sharp rising delivery from Kemar Roach.

Michael Hussey joined Simon Katich in the middle and both of them scored quickly, adding 85 runs before Katich was unfortunately dismissed just one short of what would have been a well deserved test hundred. Katich hit 10 fours in his innings of 99 off 177 balls.

Michael Clarke (11) was the next man to go as he miscued an aerial shot off the bowling of Deonarine to short mid-wicket where Gayle took a comfortable catch.

Michael Hussey and Marcus North ensured that there were no further hiccups taking Australia to a commanding position of 339 for 3 at stumps. Australia are 1-0 up in the series after they won the first test at Brisbane while the second test at Adelaide ended in a draw.

Brief Scores:

Australia 3 for 339 (Katich 99, Watson 89, Hussey 81*) v West Indies

Watson entertained the capacity crowd at the WACA with an unbeaten 69 while Katich was at the crease on 34. Australia won the toss and opted to bat first at Perth and whatever notions there were of this being the fastest pitch in the world were all put to rest in the first hour of play itself!

The only chance that West Indies got was when Chris Gayle dropped Shane Watson on 7, a miss that he may just look back and rue at the end of the match. Watson brought up his half century in just 76 balls which included as many as 12 boundaries.

Match Summary: at Lunch Australia 0 for 106 (Watson 69*) v West Indies