Mumbai: Australia have finally won the elusive Champions Trophy. Trouncing the defending champions West Indies by eight wickets at the Brabourne stadium in the final here, they announced that they are on their way to defend the World Cup too.
It was once again the Australian professionalism in batting and bowling that came to the fore today. After Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul's blitzkrieg in the initial overs, the Aussies got back into the game very soon.
Despite their early loss of two quick wickets, their middle order batsmen guided them comfortably to the target.
On the other hand, West Indies collapsed when they were really tested and their bowling lost the penetration even though they did see some early success.
Shane Watson and Damien Martyn remained unconquered with 57 and 47 runs, respectively, in the one-sided final decided by the Duckworth-Lewis method.
After winning the toss, West Indies did play like the defending champions, but only for seven overs. Chanderpaul and Gayle, with some thunderous support from the Mumbai crowd, unleashed their strokes all over the stadium.
Gayle looked all set for an encore of his Jaipur semifinal performance. He picked the gaps elegantly while Chanderpaul produced some exquisite shots off the back and frontfoot.
The first five overs produced 49 runs with Lee as well as Glenn McGrath not really knowing where to bowl. But Australia maintained their cool even though the run-rate was mounting alarmingly.
Nathan Bracken, the 29-year-old left-arm pacer, whom they call 'Bracks,' finally put on the brakes on the Windies. He got Chanderpaul to chop his delivery on to his wicket.
Things were very much in control for the Windies even then. All that was needed was to maintain the run flow.
Ramnaresh Sarwan began with an elegant off drive but lasted only nine balls. He played his shots a bit too early and the leading edge flew to mid on for Brad Hogg to take a comfortable catch.
Meanwhile, the crowd wanted more fireworks from Gayle. Every shot from Gayle was heavily cheered. But he disappointed them when he too fell at the score on 80.
His stroke-filled 37 runs was made with six boundaries and two sixes, which means he scored only a single run while all the others came off hits to the boundary or over it. Australia swooped this opportunity to go in for the kill.
McGrath, who is well known for his ability to dismiss the best batsman from any team, had Lara caught behind with a ball that moved away late. The ageing but hungry pacer struck again and Runako Morton edged a catch to Gilchrist.
Shane Watson, who time and again has wiped out the tail with ease, did the job again. He took two quick wickets and West Indies crashed out for a mere 138 runs in just 30.4 overs.
To the shock of everyone in the stadium, Australia began their chase disastrously. Ian Bradshaw had the dangerous Gilchrist caught at slips while Jerome Taylor trapped Ricky Ponting leg before.
