Lara, Morton lift Windies to 234 for six

Mumbai, Oct 18 (UNI) Runako Morton and Brian Lara were the toast of the Brabourne stadium as they took on the Australians after being reduced to 63 for four to help West Indies reach 234 for six in in Group 'A' match of the ICC Champions Trophy here today.

Joining forces at the end of the 15th over, with their side in all sorts of trouble and not looking like reaching even 150, the two not only took their side to a competitve score but also regaled the crowd with their scintillating stroke play.

The two stayed together for 29.2 overs putting on 137 runs with Lara making 71 and Morton reaching 90 not out in 103 balls with seven boundaries and a six.

The left hand-right hand combination played sensibly in the beginning, picking up the ones and twos before sending the Aussies on a leatherhunt on the best wicket of the three matches which have been played so far at this venue.

It was Morton who was the more attacking in the beginning as Lara seemed to be searching for his rhythm. However, once Lara reached into his 30s he showed the class he is made of as none of the Australian bowlers could stop the onslaught.

Lara was finally dismissed in the 45th over after hitting seven boundaries and two glorious sixers in a 94-ball 71 as he holed out to Andrew Symonds in the covers of Glenn McGrath. West Indies were then exactly 200 for five.

Carlton Baugh then joined Morton and the two pushed the score to 234 for six.

The West Indies, missing their main batsman Shivnaraine Chanderpaul who is suffering from dehydration following food poisoning, had Wavell Hinds partnering Chris Gayle at the top of the order after they batted first on winning the toss.

The new opening partneship, however, did not click and Hinds was back in the pavilion for just one run in the fourth over edging a Nathan Bracken delivery to the second slip where Ricky Ponting completed the catch.

The West Indies then send in Dwayne Smith ahead of Ramnaresh Sarwan, and after cracking two excellent boundaries, the batsman was out to a soft dismissal when he spooned an easy catch to Brad Hogg at square leg off Brett Lee for eight with Windies on 25 for two.

New man Ramnaresh Sarwan began on an explosive note essaying a brilliant straight drive of the first ball he faced from Brett Lee and then on the next ball unleasing a ferocious square cut which raced to the point boundary.

Chris Gayle was was a bit subdued at the other end then opened up smashing Nathan Bracken straight past him for a boundary. Shane Watson then replaced Nathan Bracken at the Churchgate end and he struck immediately angling the ball across the left handed Gayle. The ball took the edge on the way as Gayle played away from his body for keeper Adam Gilchrist to complete a regulation catch.

Gayle made a 26 ball 24 with four boundaries and West Indies were 47 for three.

New man Runako Morton also began with a boundary of Watson to bring up the Windies 50 in the 12th over.

Ponting then made another change bringing in left arm spinner Michael Clarke and he also struck in his first over getting the dangerous looking Sarwan leg before for 21 which was studded with four boundaries. Sarwan played back to a delivery which turned sharply to rap the batsman's pads right in front of the wicket to leave West Indies in all sorts of problems at 63 for four.

Lara, who demoted himself then came in at number 6 and he along with Morton set about repairing the innings.

The batsmen slowly but surely got used to the wicket, the best among the three so far, though still on the slow side, as they picked up the singles and twos with the occasional four in between to pile up the pressure on the Australians.

It was Morton who was the quicker scorer in the beginning as he smashed Glenn McGrath to the cover boundary.

Lara at the other end, kept rotating the strike till he fond his rhythm and then unleashed his power smashing Left arm spinner Brad Hogg for three boundaries in the bowlers first two overs. He then took to Nathan Bracken square driving him for four.

Australia had a chance when Morton then on 41 skied the ball on the off side of Bracken, but Ricky Ponting running back from extra covers could get his fingers on the ball but could not hold the ball thus giving Morton a chance. West Indies were then on 131 for 4.

Morton then completed a well deserved 50 with a cheeky single.

His knock came in 63 balls and was laced with five boundaries.

Lara also soon completed his 50 soon after the 100 partnership for the fifth wicket was registered. His 50 came in 77 balls and was studded with five boundaries and a six.

The West Indian captain then let loose pulling Lee for a massive six over mid wicket as the West Indians pushed on the accelerator to reach 234 for six in 50 overs.

For Australia Nathan Bracken with 2 for 42 in his 10 overs was the most economical bowler.

UNI