MELBOURNE, 13 January 2005 — West Indies are brimming with confidence and Pakistan slowly gathering momentum as they prepare to challenge Australia in a triangular one-day series starting tomorrow.

“Winning the ICC Champions Trophy has put us in good stead. The team is pretty confident,” West Indies batsman Wavell Hinds told reporters at Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday. “The guys have started to believe in themselves a little more.”

World champions Australia open the triangular series against West Indies in Melbourne tomorrow, followed by Australia versus Pakistan on Sunday.

“They (Australia) are the benchmark of international teams,” Hinds added. “It is two champion teams against each other and we are very much motivated and can’t wait for the game on Friday.”

West Indies paceman Reon King added: “They are intimidating. “But if you do the basics well, I think they are beatable.”

Brian Lara’s West Indies side have had a three-month break since winning the ICC Champions Trophy at The Oval in September.

Australia crashed out in the semifinals against England.

West Indies have shown mixed form in their warm-up games. Lara scored a magnificent unbeaten 116 to lead the tourists to a four-wicket win over Australia A in Hobart on Jan. 8, but with the 35-year-old left-hander resting the next day, Australia A won by 51 runs.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting is in explosive touch, scoring a double century in the third Test against Pakistan and 115 as a World XI captain in Monday’s tsunami charity limited-overs match against Asia.

Australia do have question marks over their batting, however, with opener Matthew Hayden rested for the first two matches because of fatigue and Michael Clarke struggling with a foot complaint.

Pakistan beat Australia A by 13 runs yesterday in what captain Inzamam ul-Haq described as an important win for his team after three heavy losses in the Test series against Australia.

The 34-year-old Inzamam and paceman Shoaib Akhtar both have back complaints but are expected to play on Sunday.

Sparkling Razzaq Belts

Pakistan to Victory

In Adelaide, Australia, Pakistan allrounder Abdul Razzaq belted 89 runs from 61 balls to lift his team to a morale-boosting 13-run win over Australia A in their limited overs match at the Adelaide Oval here yesterday.

Razzaq smacked half a dozen sixes — including three off just six balls from offspinner Nathan Hauritz — to steer his team to victory.

Pakistan reached 279 for eight before dismissing the Australians for 266 in the 49th over.

It was their first win over an Australian team on their current tour since beating a makeshift invitational side in a carnival match at Lilac Hill in Western Australia five weeks ago.

Razzaq’s splendid knock was backed by some impressive bowling from paceman Rana Naveed ul-Hasan who took three of the last five wickets as Pakistan claimed 6-12 in the last four overs, including two run outs.

Australia A had seemed set to cruise to victory after wicketkeeper and captain Brad Haddin gave them a brilliant chance with a flawless 129 from 123 balls.

In the 44th over the home side were coasting at 254 for four when Razzaq struck, trapping Dominic Thornely lbw for 16. Naved then completed the rout, finising with 3-42, while Razzaq took 2-45 from 10 overs.

Razzaq said the win would be a huge morale boost for Pakistan in the lead-up to the tri-series international one-day matches against Australia and the West Indies which start in Melbourne tomorrow.

Pakistan’s first match is against Australia in Hobart on Sunday.

“The main thing is we won the match,” Razzaq said.

Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq paid tribute to Razzaq, saying he was recovering from a mystery illness which had afflicted him throughout the team’s tour of Australia.

Inzamam said the win was important after Pakistan’s poor form on tour and should be a big help leading into the one-dayers.

Haddin said Pakistan had shown they had some talented one-day players but predicted the tourists would still struggle against Australia.

Meanwhile, Injured Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar should be fit for the upcoming tri-series one-day cricket matches against Australia and the West Indies, captain Inzamam ul-Haq said yesterday.

Speaking after Pakistan had beaten Australia A by 13 runs in a warm-up match at Adelaide Oval, Inzamam said he was confident the world’s fastest bowler would be able to play.