Cricket: First blood to West Indies

West Indies. . . .239-8

Australia. . . . .214

(West Indies win by 25 runs)

THE WEST INDIES looked set to continue their dominance over Australia in World Series cricket after drawing first blood with a comfortable 25-run victory in yesterday's opening match of the final.

Set a target of 240 under the Sydney Cricket Ground lights in their day-night game, the Australians rarely looked likely victors and must now win both the remaining matches in Melbourne next week to take the series.

A dashing 67 from 81 balls by Brian Lara, and his opening stand of 90 with Desmond Haynes, laid the foundations of the West Indian score of 239 for 8.

But Lara's fine knock ended ingloriously. Limping slightly after twisting his knee turning at the non-striker's end, he carved a disappointing catch to short third man off Allan Border and departed the scene of his 277 in the recent third Test.

Useful contributions from Richardson (28), Hooper (45) and Gus Logie (38) encouraged the West Indies, but the Australian bowlers must still have felt relatively satisfied.

Then the Australians, who lost the toss, quickly lost both their openers to Curtly Ambrose. Against an accurate attack, victory looked impossible, even before Mark Waugh was run out for the fourth time in five matches.

His half-century proved fruitless and Ambrose polished off the tail to finish with 5 for 32 as Australia were dismissed for 214.

The West Indies have played and beaten Australia in World Series Cup finals on five previous occasions, while Australia have now lost four matches in a row against the West Indies in the current series. They must spectacularly turn form on its head if they are to carry off the trophy in Melbourne.

(West Indies won toss)

WEST INDIES B C Lara c Dodemaide b Border 67 D L Haynes c and b Matthews 38 P V Simmons c M E Waugh b Matthews 5 *R B Richardson c Dodemaide b Border 28 C L Hooper b S R Waugh 45 A L Logie b S R Waugh 38 W K M Benjamin run out 0 I R Bishop b McDermott 1 C E L Ambrose not out 5 Extras (b2 lb8 nb2) 12 Total (for 8, 50 overs) 239

Fall: 1-90 2-96 3-128 4-159 5-216 6-217 7-220 8-239.

Did not bat: J R Murray, A C Cummins.

Bowling: McDermott 8-0-40-1 (1nb); Dodemaide 7-0-23-0; Reiffel 5-1-30-0 (1nb); Matthews 10-0- 45-2; Border 10-0-46-2; S R Waugh 10-0-45-2.

AUSTRALIA M A Taylor c Simmons b Ambrose 28 D C Boon c Murray b Ambrose 16 D M Jones c Simmons b Benjamin 13 S R Waugh c and b Hooper 15 M E Waugh run out 51 *A R Border c Ambrose b Hooper 27 I A Healy b Ambrose 33 G R J Matthews c Lara b Benjamin 11 A I C Dodemaide c Lara b Ambrose 3 P R Reiffel not out 12 C J McDermott c Simmons b Ambrose 0

Extras (lb3 nb1 w1) 5

Total (49.3 overs) 214

Fall: 1-41 2-48 3-69 4-91 5-147 6-160 7-179 8-187

9-214.

Bowling: Bishop 10-0-45-0 (1nb); Simmons 2-0- 14-0 (1w); Ambrose 9.3-2-32-5; Benjamin 10-0- 35-2; Cummins 8-0-39-0; Hooper 10-0-46-2.