KUALA LUMPUR, 19 September 2006 — Brian Lara smashed 87 off 80 balls as West Indies beat Australia by three wickets in their tri-series One-Day International in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

West Indies reached 273 for seven with 16 balls remaining after Australia’s stand-in skipper Michael Hussey had earlier scored his first One-Day International century to help his side to 272 for six off their 50 overs.

Hussey’s 109 not out lifted Australia to a respectable total and it looked like it might be enough as West Indies wobbled after the dismissals of opener Chris Gayle for 79 and Lara.

West Indies were beaten by 78 runs against Australia in the opening match last week, losing their last eight wickets for 29, and another meltdown looked likely as they crumbled to 255 for seven in the 44th over, from a comfortable 242 for four.

Dwayne Bravo (37 not out) and Carlton Baugh (seven not out) eventually edged them past the victory target. The victory means West Indies, with two wins, lead the table and are near certainties to reach Sunday’s final against either Australia or India.

West Indies began their chase tentatively and struggled to 44 for two. But once Lara joined Gayle at the crease, the runs started to flow.

The duo let loose in a 151-run third-wicket partnership against the hapless Australian attack, which was sorely missing the rested Glenn McGrath and youngster Mitchell Johnson.

Lara struck 11 fours and one six while Gayle, who joined the ODI 5,000-run club against India last week, smashed seven fours and three sixes during his 93-ball innings.

Australia were guilty of some careless bowling, giving away unnecessary wides and no-balls. Stuart Clark suffered an 11-ball 30th over, which included three no-balls and two wides, conceding 87 runs off seven overs.

Man-of-the-Match Hussey admitted the extras, totaling 33, were a cause for concern.

The Lara-Gayle partnership finally ended in the 32nd over when Gayle pulled a Shane Watson delivery to Hussey at mid-wicket, leaving West Indies on 195 for three.

Lara was out in the 41st over, caught at short fine leg by Hussey off Brett Lee’s bowling and he was quickly followed by Wavell Hinds, caught by Brad Haddin off Lee for one, and Marlon Samuels who was run out without scoring.

Hussey, in his first match as captain, faced 90 balls and hit 10 boundaries and three sixes during his innings.

He was supported by Haddin, who hammered four sixes and three fours in his 77-ball 70 as they put on 166 for the sixth wicket and rescued Australia from a difficult position.

Earlier, opener Matthew Hayden scored 49.

Ian Bradshaw was the pick of the West Indies bowling, conceding just 35 runs from 10 overs and taking the wickets of Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke as Australia slumped to 64 for four in the 18th over.

Pakistani Inquiry Judge Questions

Mushtaq’s Appointment

In Karachi, a Pakistani judge who held a long inquiry into match-fixing allegations against the Pakistan team has expressed surprise at the appointment of leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed as assistant coach for the Champions Trophy.

Retired judge Malik Qayyum said yesterday he was surprised that the Pakistan cricket authorities had ignored his recommendations on Mushtaq in his match-fixing report.

“I had recommended in the report that Wasim Akram and Mushtaq should be kept under observation,” Qayyum told Reuters.

“I had recommended they should not be appointed to any position of authority or responsibility.”

Qayyum spent nearly 18 months between 1998 and 2000 looking into match-fixing allegations against players.

His report recommended a life ban for former captain Saleem Malik and fines for Wasim, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq, Aaqib Javed and current captain Inzamam ul-Haq for not cooperating with the inquiry.