Convincing Australia get Ashes boost

Cricket/Champions Trophy final: Australia claimed their first ICC Champions Trophy title after stealing West Indies' crown in a convincing, rain-affected victory at the Brabourne Stadium.

Ricky Ponting's men were intent on adding the missing piece of silverware, having failed in four previous Trophy campaigns, and a clinical bowling display set them up.

They sliced through West Indies' batting to set up a 139-run chase, which was reduced to 116 from 35 overs after a two-hour stoppage for the wet weather.

So dominant were the world champion Aussies that the tournament showpiece turned into a damp squib long before Shane Watson and Damien Martyn eased their side home by eight wickets. Even when Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting were sent back before the interval at 13 for two - to spark great excitement in a vociferous crowd - it was not enough to threaten a shock.

Yet the holders began the contest, after Brian Lara won the toss, in explosive manner.

Openers Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle battered the attack for 49 runs in the first five overs only for Australia to hit back with a vengeance.

So decisive was their performance that more than 19 overs were left unused when West Indies were bundled out for 138.

Three wickets from left-armer Nathan Bracken and two from veteran Glenn McGrath, including the prize scalp of Brian Lara, swung the contest firmly back in favour of the world champions.

West Indies lost half their side for 103 by the end of the power play periods. They did not recover as only Dwayne Bravo, Gayle and Chanderpaul reached double figures.

Lara and Runako Morton, whose partnership in the Group A contest between the teams was integral to the 10-run victory here, were then sent back as McGrath found enough movement to locate the edge of their bats.

All-rounder Watson's golden arm then put any chance of a fightback beyond West Indies. An astute piece of captaincy resulted in Marlon Samuels flicking straight into the trap specifically set at midwicket and Carlton Baugh was pinned in front of the stumps by one which jagged back.

Just as in the previous meeting between the two on this ground, fast bowler Taylor sent Ponting back cheaply when he won an lbw shout in the very next over.

The third-wicket duo of Watson and Martyn settled things by taking the score to 45 for two at the break and continued the canter on resumption.

Watson struck his fifth one-day international 50 while Martyn finished two runs shy of his own landmark as Australia gained a significant pre-Ashes boost.