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Australia hand Windies another thrashing

Last updated on: February 19, 2010 20:43 IST

- Scorecard

Australia completed a 4-0 series triumph over the West Indies, winning the fifth and final One-Day International by 125 runs, at the MCG, on Friday.

The victory, which stretched the hosts' unbeaten streak to 18 matches across all forms of the game, added to 2-0 and 3-0 Test series triumphs over the Windies and Pakistan respectively, and a 5-0 one-day series sweep over the latter in January.

If Australia maintain their winning streak in the upcoming two Twenty20 internationals against the West Indies, they will emerge unconquered this summer, a feat achieved for the first time since 2000/01.

Ricky Ponting's men were last defeated on October 31, 2009, by India, in a 50-over clash in Kolkata.

The sparse audience of 15,538 that turned up for the match -- the lowest attendance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for an Australia - West Indies match in the 39-year history of one-day internationals, were treated to an entertaining performance from the home side.

The West Indies' hopes scoring at least one victory -- the third game in Sydney was washed out -- were crushed inside 37 overs.

Chasing Australia's formidable 324 for 5 from 50 overs, they were destroyed by some excellent bowling by Doug Bollinger (3-33), Steven Smith (2-78) and Ryan Harris (2-26) and dismissed for 199.

Earlier, Shane Watson got the Aussies off to a solid start, blasting 51 off as many balls to dominate an 81-run first wicket partnership with Brad Haddin (32 of 42 balls).

Then Ponting (61 off 55 balls), later adjudged man of the series, and his deputy Michael Clarke (47 off 58) gathered 104 for the third wicket off just 101 deliveries to set the platform for a huge total.

James Hopes (57 not out) and Adam Voges (45 not out) provided the final assault on the West Indies attack, rattling up 82 runs in the final seven overs as Australia put up the third-highest ever one-day international score the MCG.