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Watson hits ton as Aussies pile on misery for Windies

29/06/2008

Shane Watson smashed a century as Australia beat the West Indies by seven wickets to go 3-0 up in the one-day series in Grenada.

Watson hit 126 balls off 122 balls, which included 15 boundaries, as the world champions passed their target of 224 with ease.

Earlier, Chris Gayle hit a half-century as the Windies were skittled out for 223 in 48 overs.

After being put into bat, the home side made an impressive start with an opening stand of 86 between Gayle and Xavier Marshall.

Gayle struck 53 off 54 balls before being unluckily run out when Marshall's shot down the ground hit the stumps at the non-strikers end.

Marshall fell soon after for 35 after a stunning acrobatic catch by wicket-keeper James Ronchi, in for the injured Brad Haddin, off the bowling of Shane Watson.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (32) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (31) both failed to capitalised on good starts to leave the Windies on 168-4.

That sparked a collapse with Dwayne Bravo (seven) controversially given lbw off Andrew Symonds.

Wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin hit 21 before being bowled by Nathan Bracken, while the tail provided little resistance.

Brett Lee caught and bowled Darren Sammy to become the quickest player to reach 300 ODI wickets, beating Pakistan legend Waqar Younis' record.

In reply, the Windies made the perfect start when Fidel Edwards bowled Simon Marsh for a duck in the first over.

But the Aussies then cruised to victory thanks to a 190-run partnership by Watson and skipper Ricky Ponting.

Ponting whacked 69 off 83 balls before edging a delivery from Gayle to Marshall. At the other end, Watson reached a deserved run-a-ball century to prove his ODI credentials ahead of the Champions Trophy in September.

Watson was eventually out for 126 after being dismissed by Sammy, leaving Michael Clarke to hit the winning runs with nine overs to spare.

The Windies will be looking to salvage some pride in the fourth ODI on Friday in St Kitts.