Watson plays leading role

Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson compile a 190-run stand for the second wicket

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A maiden one-day international century from Shane Watson helped Australia secure a seven-wicket win over West Indies in the third match of the series in Grenada.

Responding to the Windies’ 223 all out, the tourists recovered from the early loss of Shaun Marsh thanks to a 190-run partnership for the second wicket between Watson and Ricky Ponting

Watson made 126 off 122 balls and Ponting 69 off 83 as the tourists cruised home with 9.3 overs to spare, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-game series.

At the start of the day, a balanced top-order display saw West Indies post a solid if unspectacular total.

Chris Gayle led the way with 53 from 54 balls, while solid knocks from Xavier Marshall (35), Ramnaresh Sarwan (31) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (32) also gave the hosts a fighting chance.

Gayle’s exploits were far and away the highlight of the innings, the skipper hitting five fours and three sixes as West Indies made a bright start in their bid to claw their way back into the series.

Opener Gayle took off at run-a-ball pace en route to his 36th ODI half-century, but was run out immediately after bringing up the milestone.

Marshall rode his luck, dropped by Michael Clarke on 19 before grinding out a workmanlike 35 from 65 balls.

But Marshall’s luck gave way in spectacular fashion in the 21st over when Australia wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi took a superb one-handed diving catch off Watson.

Dwayne Bravo takes to the air in a vain attempt to catch as Andrew Symonds as Australia press on

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Sarwan and Chanderpaul took the score to 160 before the latter was also caught behind, off Andrew Symonds, while Sarwan found Symonds at extra cover off Mitchell Johnson.

Dwayne Bravo was trapped lbw by Symonds for seven, while Andre Fletcher (12) and Denesh Ramdin (21) fared little better as Nathan Bracken struck twice.

The Windies tail failed to wag in the latter stages, paving the way for Brett Lee to claim his 300th ODI wicket as he caught and bowled Darren Sammy for three.

Australia’s reply suffered an early setback when Marsh was removed for a duck by the fifth ball of the day, bowled between bat and pad by Fidel Edwards.

But Ponting and Watson set about the Windies attack with aplomb.

Watson raced to his eighth ODI fifty in 48 balls, including nine fours, while Ponting followed with a half-century off 57 balls as they made the run-chase look easy.

Ponting was dropped on 66 by Gayle at first slip and, to add to the home side’s frustrations, Watson went to three figures soon after with a boundary off Gayle.

The spinner made amends in the 34th over by having Ponting taken at long-on off Marshall, and, though Watson was also dropped on 126 by Sulieman Benn at deep midwicket, he holed out to short fine-leg off Sammy’s next ball.

It was little consolation for the hosts as Michael Clarke and Symonds eased Australia to a comfortable victory.