BOMBAY, 2 November 2003 — Damien Martyn cracked a responsible 100 in difficult conditions as world champions Australia whipped India by 77 runs in a triangular one-day cricket series match here yesterday.

The stylish middle-order batsman’s fifth century helped Australia post an imposing 286-8, which proved beyond India’s reach despite half-centuries from Sachin Tendulkar (68) and captain Rahul Dravid (59). The tourists bundled India out for 209 to avenge their defeat in their previous clash against the hosts at Gwalior last week.

Left-arm spinner Michael Clarke was Australia’s bowling star, dismissing well-set Tendulkar and Dravid before finishing with a career-best 4-42. He had bagged just one wicket in his previous five one-dayers.

Left-arm fast bowler Nathan Bracken completed the job, grabbing 4-29 for his first four-wicket haul.

Ricky Ponting’s Australians now lead the table with two victories from three matches, followed by India (1 3) and New Zealand (0 2). Australia’s total owed much of its substance to Martyn, who batted nearly 44 overs in hot and humid conditions to ruin India’s chances of restricting the tourists to a modest total on a slow turning pitch of variable bounce. Martyn, 32, added 78 for the fourth wicket with Andrew Symonds (48) and 111 for the next with Michael Bevan (42).

India were under pressure after the first-ball dismissal of Virender Sehwag, trapped leg-before by Bracken.

Much then depended on Tendulkar and Venkatsai Laxman, who had made centuries in their team’s win at Gwalior.

But the pair could not repeat their performances, with Laxman contributing only 21 and Tendulkar a half-century.

Tendulkar hardly looked at his fluent best during his 76-ball knock and was bowled while attempting to cut Clarke. He put on 99 for the third wicket with Dravid.

Australia virtually wrapped up the match when Clarke had Dravid caught reverse-sweeping by Andy Bichel and then having Yuvraj Singh caught behind.

The afternoon session belonged to Martyn, who paced his innings remarkably well. He initially relied on singles and twos before going for big strokes.

Martyn reached his half-century off 84 balls, but took 34 more deliveries to complete his hundred. He hit one six and 10 fours before becoming one of seamer Ajit Agarkar’s three victims in the last over of the match.

Australia finished strongly after opener Adam Gilchrist had provided a blistering start with a 30-ball 41. The tourists plundered 54 in the opening five overs and 76 in the last 10. The Indian captain made an unusual move when he summoned part-time spinner Sehwag to share the new ball with Zaheer, but there was no stopping Martyn.

‘Dad’ Weir, World’s Oldest Test Cricketer, Dies Aged 95

New Zealander Gordon Lindsay Weir, who was the world’s oldest surviving Test cricketer, has died in Auckland at the age of 95 and 151 days. New Zealand Cricket said on their official website that Weir died on Friday.

Weir, always known as ‘Dad’, was first selected for New Zealand’s second Test against the touring MCC team of 1929-30.

A right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm medium pacer, he toured England with New Zealand in 1931 and 1937.

Weir played 11 Tests in total, scoring 416 runs at an average of 29.71.

The Wisden Cricinfo website said India’s MJ Gopalan, who played one Test in 1933-34 and is now 94 years old, had taken Weir’s mantle of oldest surviving Test player.