Mitchell Starc shone with bat and ball as Australia dismissed Pakistan for 163 to secure an innings and 18 run victory in the second test on Friday, the win giving the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Home captain Steve Smith smashed an unbeaten 165 and gave his bowlers 68 overs on the fifth and final day to run through their opponents after declaring their first innings at 624 for eight before lunch, a lead of 181 runs.

In the end, they only needed 53.2 overs of the quota as pace spearhead Starc tore through the tail after tea, finishing with 4-36, with Pakistan crumbling on a benign Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch bathed in brilliant sunshine.

Pakistan lost the first test in Brisbane by 39 runs but won admiration for their dogged fourth innings resistance.

However, much of that acclaim evaporated on Friday as their shambolic batting display followed an abysmal effort in the field in the morning.

Pakistan&#39;s 52-year wait for a maiden series win in Australia goes on and they have now lost four matches in succession heading to the series finale in Sydney on Jan. 3.

&quot;It&#39;s fantastic for us to get that result. We always thought that if we could find a way to get ourselves ahead of the game we&#39;d find a way to win,&quot; said Starc, who smashed seven sixes in an MCG record during a swashbuckling knock of 84 in the morning.

&quot;Everyone (was) going out there and believing that if we took those chances we would create enough to get 10 chances today.

&quot;It was a fantastic way to finish the Boxing Day test.&quot;

Pakistan resumed on an already precarious 91-5 after tea, with opener Azhar Ali and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed tasked with surviving 36 overs to usher their team to safety.

But their partnership lasted less than three overs after the break when Josh Hazlewood trapped Azhar, Pakistan&#39;s last specialist batsman, lbw for 43.

Lyon strikes

At 143-6, Jackson Bird thudded a delivery into Amir&#39;s pads when the tail-ender was on 11 but Smith wasted a review after the lbw appeal was turned down.

It changed little, however, as Bird bowled him two balls later.

Sarfraz Ahmed had battled doggedly as his partners disappeared around him but he was bowled for 43 through the gate with a sizzling Starc inswinger.

Starc then gave the same treatment to Wahab Riaz, bowling the paceman for a duck with another fiery delivery that beat the outside edge.

He wrapped up the win by having Yasir Shah sky an easy catch to Bird at mid-on.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who was under pressure to retain his spot in Sydney after a run of mediocre performances, set Australia on course for the win when he captured three wickets in the middle session, including two in three balls.

The tourists were already one wicket down at lunch, with Hazlewood having bowled opener Sami Aslam for two and Babar Azam soon departed for three off the first ball after the interval, trapped lbw by Starc.

Azhar and Younus Khan dug in for an hour but Lyon removed the latter two overs after the drinks break for 24, when the veteran coughed up a catch to Peter Handscomb at short leg.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq then departed for a duck two balls later, caught at fine leg by Nic Maddinson following an appalling sweep shot off Lyon.

Lyon grabbed his third victim late in the session when Asad Shafiq deflected a catch off his body for Handscomb to take a fine catch at short leg.

Smith and Starc hammered Pakistan&#39;s bowlers in a 154-run partnership after Australia had resumed on 465-6 in the morning.

(Reuters)

The match was heading to a tame draw but Pakistan's dramatic collapse leaves them winless in Australia for 52 years

Mitchell Starc shone with bat and ball as Australia dismissed Pakistan for 163 to secure an innings and 18 run victory in the second test on Friday, the win giving the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Home captain Steve Smith smashed an unbeaten 165 and gave his bowlers 68 overs on the fifth and final day to run through their opponents after declaring their first innings at 624 for eight before lunch, a lead of 181 runs. In the end, they only needed 53.2 overs of the quota as pace spearhead Starc tore through the tail after tea, finishing with 4-36, with Pakistan crumbling on a benign Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch bathed in brilliant sunshine. Pakistan lost the first test in Brisbane by 39 runs but won admiration for their dogged fourth innings resistance. However, much of that acclaim evaporated on Friday as their shambolic batting display followed an abysmal effort in the field in the morning. Pakistan's 52-year wait for a maiden series win in Australia goes on and they have now lost four matches in succession heading to the series finale in Sydney on Jan. 3. "It's fantastic for us to get that result. We always thought that if we could find a way to get ourselves ahead of the game we'd find a way to win," said Starc, who smashed seven sixes in an MCG record during a swashbuckling knock of 84 in the morning. "Everyone (was) going out there and believing that if we took those chances we would create enough to get 10 chances today. "It was a fantastic way to finish the Boxing Day test." Pakistan resumed on an already precarious 91-5 after tea, with opener Azhar Ali and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed tasked with surviving 36 overs to usher their team to safety. But their partnership lasted less than three overs after the break when Josh Hazlewood trapped Azhar, Pakistan's last specialist batsman, lbw for 43. Lyon strikes At 143-6, Jackson Bird thudded a delivery into Amir's pads when the tail-ender was on 11 but Smith wasted a review after the lbw appeal was turned down. It changed little, however, as Bird bowled him two balls later. Sarfraz Ahmed had battled doggedly as his partners disappeared around him but he was bowled for 43 through the gate with a sizzling Starc inswinger. Starc then gave the same treatment to Wahab Riaz, bowling the paceman for a duck with another fiery delivery that beat the outside edge. He wrapped up the win by having Yasir Shah sky an easy catch to Bird at mid-on. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who was under pressure to retain his spot in Sydney after a run of mediocre performances, set Australia on course for the win when he captured three wickets in the middle session, including two in three balls. The tourists were already one wicket down at lunch, with Hazlewood having bowled opener Sami Aslam for two and Babar Azam soon departed for three off the first ball after the interval, trapped lbw by Starc. Azhar and Younus Khan dug in for an hour but Lyon removed the latter two overs after the drinks break for 24, when the veteran coughed up a catch to Peter Handscomb at short leg. Captain Misbah-ul-Haq then departed for a duck two balls later, caught at fine leg by Nic Maddinson following an appalling sweep shot off Lyon. Lyon grabbed his third victim late in the session when Asad Shafiq deflected a catch off his body for Handscomb to take a fine catch at short leg. Smith and Starc hammered Pakistan's bowlers in a 154-run partnership after Australia had resumed on 465-6 in the morning. (Reuters)

Pakistan snatch defeat after Starc's all-round heroics in Melbourne Test

Skipper&nbsp;Steve&nbsp;Smith&nbsp;scored his 17th Test century to give Australia a 22-run lead over Pakistan as rain again disrupted play in the second Test in Melbourne on Thursday.

Smith&nbsp;reached his fourth Test hundred of the year before a storm lashed the Melbourne Cricket Ground just before tea and forced the rest of the fourth day&#39;s play to be abandoned.

Smith&nbsp;was unbeaten on 100 with Mitchell Starc not out seven in Australia&#39;s 465 for six.

It is unlikely there will be a result in the Test with just Friday&#39;s final day to play.

The Australians were hoping to build a 100-plus run lead to try and put the tourists under pressure on the final day in the weather-disrupted Test.

&quot;We were planning to play a little more positively this afternoon and try and get as many runs as we could, but the rain hasn&#39;t helped us,&quot;&nbsp;Smith&nbsp;said.

&quot;So now it&#39;s about summing it up in the morning and seeing where we can go.

&quot;It&#39;s obviously going to be difficult to get a result, the wicket hasn&#39;t broken up much and it&#39;s playing well.&quot;

Smith&nbsp;passed 1,000 runs in a calendar year for the third time in a row during his knock, taking his 2016 total to 1,040 at 67.60 with his patient 100 not out coming off 168 balls with nine boundaries.

Usman Khawaja was dismissed three runs short of his century early in the day, the second time this season that the Pakistan-born batsman has been dismissed on 97.

Khawaja had added just two runs to his overnight 95 off 12 balls when he edged Wahab Riaz to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed in the day&#39;s fifth over. Khawaja left the ground with his head bowed.

Khawaja also missed out on a century against South Africa in the second innings of last month&#39;s first Test in Perth.

The Australians lost the wickets of under-pressure pair Nic Maddinson and Matthew Wade in the middle session.

Handy Handscomb

Maddinson, fighting to nail down his Test spot, failed again, deceived by wrist-spinner Yasir Shah&#39;s flight and was bowled off-stump for 22 off 55 balls.

Under pressure after scores of 0, 1 and 4 in his three Test innings, Maddinson advanced down the wicket but failed to get to the pitch of the ball and left the wicket shaking his head.

Wicketkeeper Wade again missed out -- this time he was caught in the slips for just nine after a slash outside off-stump at Sohail Khan.

Wade, like Maddinson, has struggled for runs since his recall for last month&#39;s third Test against South Africa and has scores of 4, 7, 1 not out and now 9 in his four innings since.&nbsp;

In contrast, Peter Handscomb claimed his third half-century in three Tests to push along the Australian scoring.

He was dropped off a sharp caught-and-bowled chance by Mohammad Amir on 51, but three runs later he found Sami Aslam at point off Sohail.

Handscomb, playing on his home pitch, added 92 runs with&nbsp;Smith&nbsp;off 141 balls.

Starc slammed Shah for a mighty six -- measured at 103 metres -- high into the stands to get off the mark and will resume on Friday with&nbsp;Smith.

Azhar Ali, who scored an unbeaten 205 in Pakistan&#39;s 443 for nine in the first innings declaration, was fielding at short leg when he received a fearsome blow on the helmet off Wade&#39;s full-blooded pull shot and was taken from the field for observation for concussion.

Paceman Riaz continued to have problems bowling no-balls. He overstepped 12 times in his 27 overs.

&quot;We need to cut down these no-balls, it&#39;s not acceptable,&quot; Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood said.

(AFP)

Smith?reached his fourth Test hundred of the year to give his team a lead of 22 runs before a storm curtailed Day 3 of the Test

Skipper Steve Smith scored his 17th Test century to give Australia a 22-run lead over Pakistan as rain again disrupted play in the second Test in Melbourne on Thursday. Smith reached his fourth Test hundred of the year before a storm lashed the Melbourne Cricket Ground just before tea and forced the rest of the fourth day's play to be abandoned. Smith was unbeaten on 100 with Mitchell Starc not out seven in Australia's 465 for six. It is unlikely there will be a result in the Test with just Friday's final day to play. The Australians were hoping to build a 100-plus run lead to try and put the tourists under pressure on the final day in the weather-disrupted Test. "We were planning to play a little more positively this afternoon and try and get as many runs as we could, but the rain hasn't helped us," Smith said. "So now it's about summing it up in the morning and seeing where we can go. "It's obviously going to be difficult to get a result, the wicket hasn't broken up much and it's playing well." Smith passed 1,000 runs in a calendar year for the third time in a row during his knock, taking his 2016 total to 1,040 at 67.60 with his patient 100 not out coming off 168 balls with nine boundaries. Usman Khawaja was dismissed three runs short of his century early in the day, the second time this season that the Pakistan-born batsman has been dismissed on 97. Khawaja had added just two runs to his overnight 95 off 12 balls when he edged Wahab Riaz to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed in the day's fifth over. Khawaja left the ground with his head bowed. Khawaja also missed out on a century against South Africa in the second innings of last month's first Test in Perth. The Australians lost the wickets of under-pressure pair Nic Maddinson and Matthew Wade in the middle session. Handy Handscomb Maddinson, fighting to nail down his Test spot, failed again, deceived by wrist-spinner Yasir Shah's flight and was bowled off-stump for 22 off 55 balls. Under pressure after scores of 0, 1 and 4 in his three Test innings, Maddinson advanced down the wicket but failed to get to the pitch of the ball and left the wicket shaking his head. Wicketkeeper Wade again missed out -- this time he was caught in the slips for just nine after a slash outside off-stump at Sohail Khan. Wade, like Maddinson, has struggled for runs since his recall for last month's third Test against South Africa and has scores of 4, 7, 1 not out and now 9 in his four innings since. In contrast, Peter Handscomb claimed his third half-century in three Tests to push along the Australian scoring. He was dropped off a sharp caught-and-bowled chance by Mohammad Amir on 51, but three runs later he found Sami Aslam at point off Sohail. Handscomb, playing on his home pitch, added 92 runs with Smith off 141 balls. Starc slammed Shah for a mighty six -- measured at 103 metres -- high into the stands to get off the mark and will resume on Friday with Smith. Azhar Ali, who scored an unbeaten 205 in Pakistan's 443 for nine in the first innings declaration, was fielding at short leg when he received a fearsome blow on the helmet off Wade's full-blooded pull shot and was taken from the field for observation for concussion. Paceman Riaz continued to have problems bowling no-balls. He overstepped 12 times in his 27 overs. "We need to cut down these no-balls, it's not acceptable," Pakistan bowling coach Azhar Mahmood said. (AFP)

Steve Smith ton hands Australia advantage over Pakistan in Melbourne Test

Dilruwan Perera ripped the heart out of the Australian order to spin Sri Lanka to a series-clinching 229-run victory inside three days of the second test at Galle today. 
 
The 34-year-old off-spinner laid bare Australia&#39;s spin frailties, claiming 6-70 as the world&#39;s top ranked test team folded for 183 in their pursuit of an improbable 413-run victory target. 
 
Perera, who had claimed 4-29 in the first innings and scored 64 in his team&#39;s second innings, became the first Sri Lankan player to score a fifty and claim 10 wickets in the same match as his side clinched their first test series victory over Australia since 1999. 
 
Resuming on 25 for three, Australia captain Steve Smith (30) and deputy David Warner (41) showed positive intent, frequently using their feet against the spinners and dealing mostly in boundaries even though it was merely delaying what looked inevitable. 
 
Perera separated them, trapping Warner leg-before with a straight delivery. The batsman reviewed the decision but could not get it overturned. 
 
The spinner then returned to induce Smith into giving a bat-pad catch to Kusal Mendis at forward short leg. 
 
Perera, whose all-round performance earned the man-of-the-match award, completed his five-wicket haul when Adam Voges (28) attempted a reverse sweep only to have his leg stump pegged back. 
 
Kusal Mendis then displayed tremendous reflexes as he stopped a Peter Nevill shot at forward short leg and flicked it back on the stumps to run out the batsman and trigger wild celebrations at the Galle International Stadium. 
 
(Reuters)

Sri Lanka clinched their first test series victory over Australia since 1999

Dilruwan Perera ripped the heart out of the Australian order to spin Sri Lanka to a series-clinching 229-run victory inside three days of the second test at Galle today. The 34-year-old off-spinner laid bare Australia's spin frailties, claiming 6-70 as the world's top ranked test team folded for 183 in their pursuit of an improbable 413-run victory target. Perera, who had claimed 4-29 in the first innings and scored 64 in his team's second innings, became the first Sri Lankan player to score a fifty and claim 10 wickets in the same match as his side clinched their first test series victory over Australia since 1999. Resuming on 25 for three, Australia captain Steve Smith (30) and deputy David Warner (41) showed positive intent, frequently using their feet against the spinners and dealing mostly in boundaries even though it was merely delaying what looked inevitable. Perera separated them, trapping Warner leg-before with a straight delivery. The batsman reviewed the decision but could not get it overturned. The spinner then returned to induce Smith into giving a bat-pad catch to Kusal Mendis at forward short leg. Perera, whose all-round performance earned the man-of-the-match award, completed his five-wicket haul when Adam Voges (28) attempted a reverse sweep only to have his leg stump pegged back. Kusal Mendis then displayed tremendous reflexes as he stopped a Peter Nevill shot at forward short leg and flicked it back on the stumps to run out the batsman and trigger wild celebrations at the Galle International Stadium. (Reuters)

Perera spins Sri Lanka to historic win against Australia

Australia&#39;s bowlers ripped through Sri Lanka&#39;s brittle batting lineup to dismiss the home side for 117 early in the middle session on the first day of the opening test at Pallekele today. 
 
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood and off-spinner Nathan Lyon shared six wickets, while Mitchell Starc and Steve O&#39;Keefe picked up two apiece as the hosts were shot out shortly after lunch. 
 
Debutant all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva (24) was the top scorer for Sri Lanka, who have lost their last two test series in New Zealand and England. 
 
Earlier, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews had won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bat on a dry pitch in the first match of the three-test series. 
 
Any hopes Mathews had of enjoying a strong start were soon shattered, however, after Australia pace duo Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc ensured the tourists took full control with the new ball by reducing the hosts to 18-3 inside 10 overs. 
 
Left-armer Starc, making his comeback after a long injury layoff, sent back Dimuth Karunaratne, with the opening batsman failing to get the umpire&#39;s leg before wicket verdict overturned on review. 
 
The 25-year-old Hazlewood, bowling an impeccable line and length, then dismissed Kusal Mendis and Kaushal Silva and returned for another spell before lunch to lure Dinesh Chandimal into an edge behind to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill. 
 
Left-arm spinner Steve O&#39;Keefe, who was included alongside Lyon, was brought on in the ninth over by Australia captain Steve Smith and he was rewarded when he dismissed Mathews. 
 
Lyon found a lot of turn from the surface and picked up his three wickets from just seven deliveries after the lunch interval as Sri Lanka&#39;s batsman appeared keen to return to the pavilion as quickly as they departed it. 
 
Rangana Herath became Starc&#39;s second victim and Australia&#39;s ninth after Smith successfully overturned the umpire&#39;s &#39;not out&#39; decision for leg before on review. 
 
O&#39;Keefe finished off proceedings when he captured his second wicket of the innings with the removal of Nuwan Pradeep. 
 
Injury-ravaged Sri Lanka, ranked seventh in the world, also handed a debut to left-arm slow bowler Lakshan Sandakan against the world&#39;s top-ranked test side, who have won just one out of their last 15 tests in Asia. 
 
(Reuters)

Debutant all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva was the top scorer for Sri Lanka

Australia's bowlers ripped through Sri Lanka's brittle batting lineup to dismiss the home side for 117 early in the middle session on the first day of the opening test at Pallekele today. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood and off-spinner Nathan Lyon shared six wickets, while Mitchell Starc and Steve O'Keefe picked up two apiece as the hosts were shot out shortly after lunch. Debutant all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva (24) was the top scorer for Sri Lanka, who have lost their last two test series in New Zealand and England. Earlier, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews had won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bat on a dry pitch in the first match of the three-test series. Any hopes Mathews had of enjoying a strong start were soon shattered, however, after Australia pace duo Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc ensured the tourists took full control with the new ball by reducing the hosts to 18-3 inside 10 overs. Left-armer Starc, making his comeback after a long injury layoff, sent back Dimuth Karunaratne, with the opening batsman failing to get the umpire's leg before wicket verdict overturned on review. The 25-year-old Hazlewood, bowling an impeccable line and length, then dismissed Kusal Mendis and Kaushal Silva and returned for another spell before lunch to lure Dinesh Chandimal into an edge behind to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill. Left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe, who was included alongside Lyon, was brought on in the ninth over by Australia captain Steve Smith and he was rewarded when he dismissed Mathews. Lyon found a lot of turn from the surface and picked up his three wickets from just seven deliveries after the lunch interval as Sri Lanka's batsman appeared keen to return to the pavilion as quickly as they departed it. Rangana Herath became Starc's second victim and Australia's ninth after Smith successfully overturned the umpire's 'not out' decision for leg before on review. O'Keefe finished off proceedings when he captured his second wicket of the innings with the removal of Nuwan Pradeep. Injury-ravaged Sri Lanka, ranked seventh in the world, also handed a debut to left-arm slow bowler Lakshan Sandakan against the world's top-ranked test side, who have won just one out of their last 15 tests in Asia. (Reuters)

Australia dismiss Sri Lanka for 117 in opener

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and opted to bat on a dry pitch in the first test of the three-match series against Australia at Pallekele today. 
 
The injury-ravaged hosts, ranked seventh in the world, handed debuts to all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva and left-arm slow bowler Lakshan Sandakan. 
 
Mathews side, who lost their last two test series in New Zealand and England, are missing pacemen Dhammika Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera while Suranga Lakmal was also ruled out from the match due to an ankle complaint. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s obvious, we&#39;ll have a bat,&quot; Mathews said after his counterpart Steve Smith called wrongly at the toss. 
 
&quot;Pitch looks pretty good but it can turn, probably around day two. We would like to put the runs on the board.&nbsp;We&#39;ve got a good set of young players you can look forward to.&quot; 
 
Australia captain Smith had earlier informed that the world&#39;s top-ranked test side, who have won just one out of their last 15 tests in Asia, will go into the match with two slow bowlers in off-spinner Nathan Lyon and left-armer Steve O&#39;Keefe. 
 
Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc was back after a long injury layoff to lead Australia&#39;s pace attack. 
 
Smith, who is yet to lose a test when leading the side, said he would also have batted first had he won the toss. 
 
&quot;Looks like a pretty dry wicket and they&#39;re playing about four spinners so would have had the bat,&quot; said Smith, who is ranked number one among test batsmen in the world.&nbsp;&quot;(Opener David Warner)&#39;s back, which is pretty exciting for us, he is in great form so hopefully he&#39;s got some runs in this match.&nbsp;It&#39;s been a great prep and the boys are ready to go.&quot; 
 
Teams: 
 
Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (captain), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Steve O&#39;Keefe, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon 
 
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (captain), Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan 
 
(Reuters)

All-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva and left-arm slow bowler Lakshan Sandakan make their debuts with this match

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and opted to bat on a dry pitch in the first test of the three-match series against Australia at Pallekele today. The injury-ravaged hosts, ranked seventh in the world, handed debuts to all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva and left-arm slow bowler Lakshan Sandakan. Mathews side, who lost their last two test series in New Zealand and England, are missing pacemen Dhammika Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera while Suranga Lakmal was also ruled out from the match due to an ankle complaint. "It's obvious, we'll have a bat," Mathews said after his counterpart Steve Smith called wrongly at the toss. "Pitch looks pretty good but it can turn, probably around day two. We would like to put the runs on the board. We've got a good set of young players you can look forward to." Australia captain Smith had earlier informed that the world's top-ranked test side, who have won just one out of their last 15 tests in Asia, will go into the match with two slow bowlers in off-spinner Nathan Lyon and left-armer Steve O'Keefe. Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc was back after a long injury layoff to lead Australia's pace attack. Smith, who is yet to lose a test when leading the side, said he would also have batted first had he won the toss. "Looks like a pretty dry wicket and they're playing about four spinners so would have had the bat," said Smith, who is ranked number one among test batsmen in the world. "(Opener David Warner)'s back, which is pretty exciting for us, he is in great form so hopefully he's got some runs in this match. It's been a great prep and the boys are ready to go." Teams: Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (captain), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Steve O'Keefe, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (captain), Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan (Reuters)

Sri Lanka opt to bat against Australia in first test

Australia qualified for the final of the triangular one-day international series (ODI) with a six-wicket win over West Indies in Barbados on Tuesday. 
 
West Indies were sent in to bat and compiled 282 for eight off their 50 overs, with Marlon Samuels scoring 125 off 134 balls for his maiden ODI century against Australia. 
 
Wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin chipped in with a brisk 91 in a 192-run fourth wicket stand as the hosts roared back after losing three early wickets. 
 
Australia made a wobbly start in reply, with openers Aaron Finch (16) and Usman Khawaja (17) going early. But, the visitors settled in as play wore on and chased down the target with eight balls to spare, Glenn Maxwell (46 not out) securing victory with a devastating late burst. 
 
The result means the winner of Friday&#39;s match between West Indies and South Africa will advance to Sunday&#39;s final against Australia at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. 
 
While captain Steve Smith (78) top-scored for Australia with his third successive ODI half-century, the batting form of team mates Mitchell Marsh (79 not out) and Maxwell pleased the skipper. Maxwell&#39;s innings included a magnificent switch-hit sweep for six over cover-point off spinner Sunil Narine in the 46th over. In the next over he bludgeoned 14 runs off three balls off Carlos Brathwaite to effectively seal victory. 
 
&quot;An innings like that, I was speechless at the other end,&quot; said Marsh in an on-field interview. &quot;Maxie has a lot of doubters but an innings like today shows why he&#39;s such a pivotal part of the team.&quot; 
 
Smith, who downplayed a question about apparent on-field sledging, had plenty of praise to share around. 
 
&quot;I thought Mitchell Marsh played a very mature innings and Glenn Maxwell finished off nicely with a few of his trademark reverse slog sweeps, or whatever they&#39;re called,&quot; he said. 
 
West Indies captain Jason Holder limped off with a strained left hamstring after bowling just two overs and is doubtful for Friday&#39;s showdown against South Africa. 
 
(Reuters)

West Indies were sent in to bat and notched up 282 for eight, with Marlon Samuels scoring his maiden ODI century against Australia

Australia qualified for the final of the triangular one-day international series (ODI) with a six-wicket win over West Indies in Barbados on Tuesday. West Indies were sent in to bat and compiled 282 for eight off their 50 overs, with Marlon Samuels scoring 125 off 134 balls for his maiden ODI century against Australia. Wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin chipped in with a brisk 91 in a 192-run fourth wicket stand as the hosts roared back after losing three early wickets. Australia made a wobbly start in reply, with openers Aaron Finch (16) and Usman Khawaja (17) going early. But, the visitors settled in as play wore on and chased down the target with eight balls to spare, Glenn Maxwell (46 not out) securing victory with a devastating late burst. The result means the winner of Friday's match between West Indies and South Africa will advance to Sunday's final against Australia at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. While captain Steve Smith (78) top-scored for Australia with his third successive ODI half-century, the batting form of team mates Mitchell Marsh (79 not out) and Maxwell pleased the skipper. Maxwell's innings included a magnificent switch-hit sweep for six over cover-point off spinner Sunil Narine in the 46th over. In the next over he bludgeoned 14 runs off three balls off Carlos Brathwaite to effectively seal victory. "An innings like that, I was speechless at the other end," said Marsh in an on-field interview. "Maxie has a lot of doubters but an innings like today shows why he's such a pivotal part of the team." Smith, who downplayed a question about apparent on-field sledging, had plenty of praise to share around. "I thought Mitchell Marsh played a very mature innings and Glenn Maxwell finished off nicely with a few of his trademark reverse slog sweeps, or whatever they're called," he said. West Indies captain Jason Holder limped off with a strained left hamstring after bowling just two overs and is doubtful for Friday's showdown against South Africa. (Reuters)

Australia beat Windies to reach ODI tri-series final

A hard-hitting 92 by Marlon Samuels, which included three consecutive sixes in the 42nd over, helped lift West Indies to a four-wicket win over Australia in the fifth game of a triangular one-day international (ODI) series in St Kitts on Monday. 
 
Samuels took advantage of the short boundaries at Warner Park on the small Caribbean island, compiling his score in just 87 balls as he smacked four sixes and eight fours to compile his first career ODI half-century against Australia. 
 
Opener Johnson Charles also played a big part in the result with a free-scoring 48 off 38 balls, which set the tone as they chased down Australia&#39;s total with 26 balls to spare after the visitors had compiled 265 for 7 off the 50 overs. 
 
Carlos Brathwaite hit the winning run as the hosts, who were soundly beaten by Australia earlier in the series, recorded their second victory from three matches. 
 
Australia have won two of four matches, while South Africa, the other team in the series, have one win from three games. 
 
After nine games, with each team playing six matches, the top two qualify for the June 26 final. 
 
West Indies&#39; performance reaffirmed the competitiveness of the Caribbean team in the sport&#39;s shorter formats, a stark contrast to their recent struggles in five-day Test cricket. 
 
&quot;It means a lot to us,&quot; captain Jason Holder said. &quot;It just shows we can beat these teams. We just need to be consistent.&quot; 
 
Australia, sent in to bat, promoted left-hander Usman Khawaja from number three to open in place of David Warner, who suffered a fractured finger on Saturday. 
 
Khawaja made 98 before being run out, while captain Steve Smith chimed in with 74 as the pair put on a second-wicket partnership of 170 after Aaron Finch had been sent packing for a golden duck. 
 
But it was slow going for Australia near the end of their innings, and Smith said his team&#39;s total was some 15 or 20 runs short of what he would have considered satisfactory. 
 
&quot;After 30 overs, we probably should have got a few more but credit to West Indies, I thought they bowled well,&quot; he said in an on-field interview. 
(Reuters)

West Indies won the 5th ODI of the tri-series tournament by four wickets

A hard-hitting 92 by Marlon Samuels, which included three consecutive sixes in the 42nd over, helped lift West Indies to a four-wicket win over Australia in the fifth game of a triangular one-day international (ODI) series in St Kitts on Monday. Samuels took advantage of the short boundaries at Warner Park on the small Caribbean island, compiling his score in just 87 balls as he smacked four sixes and eight fours to compile his first career ODI half-century against Australia. Opener Johnson Charles also played a big part in the result with a free-scoring 48 off 38 balls, which set the tone as they chased down Australia's total with 26 balls to spare after the visitors had compiled 265 for 7 off the 50 overs. Carlos Brathwaite hit the winning run as the hosts, who were soundly beaten by Australia earlier in the series, recorded their second victory from three matches. Australia have won two of four matches, while South Africa, the other team in the series, have one win from three games. After nine games, with each team playing six matches, the top two qualify for the June 26 final. West Indies' performance reaffirmed the competitiveness of the Caribbean team in the sport's shorter formats, a stark contrast to their recent struggles in five-day Test cricket. "It means a lot to us," captain Jason Holder said. "It just shows we can beat these teams. We just need to be consistent." Australia, sent in to bat, promoted left-hander Usman Khawaja from number three to open in place of David Warner, who suffered a fractured finger on Saturday. Khawaja made 98 before being run out, while captain Steve Smith chimed in with 74 as the pair put on a second-wicket partnership of 170 after Aaron Finch had been sent packing for a golden duck. But it was slow going for Australia near the end of their innings, and Smith said his team's total was some 15 or 20 runs short of what he would have considered satisfactory. "After 30 overs, we probably should have got a few more but credit to West Indies, I thought they bowled well," he said in an on-field interview. (Reuters)

Samuels' 92 helps Windies beat Australia

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