CAPTAIN Ricky Ponting fired a rocket at his side today for the undisciplined batting he says cost Australia any hope of winning the Champions Trophy match against West Indies in Mumbai.

The Windies celebrated a memorable upset win by 10 runs, scoring 6-234 then restricting the world champion side to 9-224.

Paceman Jerome Taylor completed a hat-trick in the last over of the game and finished with a match-winning 4-49.

Taylor removed Ponting for one then in the 48th and 50th overs captured Mike Hussey (13), Brett Lee (0) and Brad Hogg (10).

Australia were 4-81 before Michael Clarke (47) and Adam Gilchrist (92) shared a 101-run stand to put their side back in the match against the defending champions.

But a mix-up which led to Gilchrist's run out in the 42nd over triggered a collapse of 5-37 in the closing overs.

"We can't blame the wicket or the conditions,'' Ponting said.

"We have to blame ourselves for some ill-disciplined batting and some ill-disciplined bowling at times as well.

Opener Shane Watson (0) and middle-order batsmen Damien Martyn (17) and Andrew Symonds (18) were among the Australians whose shot selection could be questioned, with Symonds aiming a wild slog attempt and getting bowled by spinner Chris Gayle at 4-81.

A clash between Clarke and Gayle appeared to become quite heated with the pair brushing shoulders as Clarke ran between wickets.

An ICC spokesman said on-field umpires, South Africa's Rudi Koertzen and England's Mark Benson, had made no mention of any incidents in their report to match referee Mike Procter.

A century stand between Brian Lara (71) and unlikely hero Runako Morton (90 not out) lifted West Indies to the competitive total of 6-234.

Skipper Lara didn't take the field in Australia's innings, struck down by a back complaint.
NSW left-armer Nathan Bracken was Australia's only multiple wicket-taker with 2-42.

The Australians travel north to Jaipur today and will train there on Friday in preparation for Saturday's vital clash with England in Jaipur.

Celebrations for Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Light, are sure to provide some extra spark to a match already holding much interest, with fireworks expected to dominate the Jaipur skyline.
England has also lost its opening match, to India.

Australia's third Group A match is against India in Mohali on October 29.

Herald Sun

Australia beat England by six wickets

JAIPUR, Oct 21 : England were left facing an early exit from the Champions Trophy after a six-wicket defeat by Australia in the crucial Group A encounter at the Sawai Man Singh stadium here on Saturday.

Damien Martyn (78 off 91 balls) powered Australia to beat England in the 37th over.

SCORECARD

On his 35th birthday, Martyn hit nine boundaries in a 35-ball half-century to revive Australia's fortunes after the loss of three early wickets.

Sajid Mahmood bowled Adam Gilchrist and had Ricky Ponting caught at slip before James Anderson bowled Shane Watson.

Earlier, Australian pacers Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson shared six wickets as England collapsed to 169 after a promising start in their crunch game.

England looked like setting a tough target when Andrew Strauss (56) and Ian Bell (43) put on 83 for the opening wicket.

Strauss completed his 12th half-century off 78 balls and hit six boundaries.

However, the rest of the batsmen, with the exception of Paul Collingwood (22*), failed to reach double figures.

England captain Andrew Flintoff - who was out for nought in the first game against India - struggled to score four runs in 15 deliveries.

Flintoff batted at two different positions in as many games, but had yet to click.

Glenn McGrath began unimpressively when he conceded 27 runs in his opening four overs, but came back strongly to grab 2-36 off nine overs.

Watson claimed 3-16, including the key wicket of Flintoff (4) while left-arm speedster Johnson returned figures of 3-40.

Lee went wicketless but was impressive with figures of 9-3-25-0.

Wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist brilliantly supported his pacemen with five catches, including his 350th in ODIs.

IndiaTimes