Australia has pulled off a stunning comeback to secure a 78-run win over the West Indies in the DLF Cup opener at the Kinrara Oval in Kuala Lumpur.
Following a bludgeoning 136-run opening partnership between Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul - during which the pair crashed 20 boundaries including five sixes - the Windies were in pole position to stroll to victory..jpg)
But despite needing just four an over to coast home, they lost their final nine wickets for the addition of just 29 runs after Mitchell Johnson, who had conceded 39 runs in his first four-over spell, had Chanderpaul caught behind three balls into his second spell.
Chanderpaul had compiled a remarkable 92 off 83 balls despite making just three from his first 22 balls.
Shane Watson started to put more doubt in West Indian minds when he removed Gayle for a classy 58 - and ended up finishing with figures of 4-42 including the key dismissal of Ramnaresh Sarwan for 22.
The West Indies' reply was over after a mere 34.3 overs.
Glenn McGrath had opened the bowling after seven-and-a-half months on the sidelines and turned in an eventful first over.
The 36-year-old sent down four wides to the left-handed opening pairing but had a strong appeal for a caught behind against Chanderpaul turned down by the umpire.
Chanderpaul then took a liking to birthday boy Nathan Bracken, helping himself to 10 runs off the left-armer's third over, 14 off his fourth and an incredible 16 off his fifth.
Bracken ended the match with 2-45 off 6.3 overs.
During Chanderpaul's boundary-fest, Johnson put down a half-chance with a diving attempt to allow the elegant opener the chance to reach his half-century in just 45 balls.
Gayle also survived a chance by Michael Clarke as the runs continued to flow, the 100-run stand brought up with the innings' 15th boundary off just 89 balls.
Then McGrath caught Chanderpaul in the deep but landed a foot on the boundary rope before the West Indians lost four quick wickets, including captain Brian Lara for one and Dwayne Bravo for eight.
Bravo's rash shot - well snaffled by Phil Jaques at cover - provided McGrath his first wicket in his international return to finish with figures of 1-30 from nine overs.
The Windies then went into freefall from 4-185 to 201 all out in a matter of overs with the tail putting up little resistance.
Mark Cosgrove even chimed in with his maiden international scalp before leaving the field though injury.
Earlier, half-centuries to Ricky Ponting and Clarke helped the Australians to a strong total of 9-279 albeit restricted by speedster Jerome Taylor's late three-wicket burst.
Ponting (56) built an impressive run-a-ball half-century before falling two runs short of his 100-run second-wicket stand with opener Simon Katich.
Clarke, who came to the crease in the 22nd over to replace Ponting, then guided Australia towards a decent tally with 81 in just 79 deliveries.
The pair, with assistance from Katich (36) and Brad Haddin (23 off 19 deliveries), took advantage of some generous West Indian pace bowling early on with the inexperienced Taylor and Fidel Edwards (1-38 off six overs) coming under siege.
The Windies attack also conceded 24 in extras including 17 wides but recovered towards the end of the innings - helped in part by Taylor's renaissance (3-59).
