AUSTRALIA cruised to another comfortable one-day international win over a West Indies side looking increasingly out of their depth.
The hosts now lead 2-0 following an eight-wicket win in Adelaide with three matches remaining.
Set a paltry 171 for victory, Australia cantered to victory in the 27th over with captain Ricky Ponting (57 not out off 55 balls) and his deputy Michael Clarke (27 not out off 28) leading the side home.
A belligerent 53 off 50 balls from opener Shane Watson ensured the run chase was going to be staged in cruise control while Shaun Marsh was the other early contributor with 27, while Doug Bollinger was named man-of-the-match for his four wickets earlier in the day.
Australia got off to a bright opening. Marsh pulled a Kemar Roach delivery for six in the third over. The home side raced to 50 before Marsh chopped a Dwayne Smith ball on to his off stump.
The dismissal should have lifted Windies spirits but a tactical blunder by Chris Gayle saw the Australians continue their dominance. Gayle called for the bowling powerplay and watched on as Australia smashed 42 runs off overs 11-15 – Watson’s second six through the on-side the best of several highlights in this purple patch.
The end of the powerplay then signalled the demise of Watson who was caught behind pushing forward to a Roach delivery.
Ponting was joined by Clarke and the experienced duo took their time against Nikita Miller and Roach, but they then went for the killer blow by calling for the batting powerplay in the 20th over – Ponting smashing some lusty hits off both pace and spin.
Earlier the tourists won the toss, elected to bat and slumped to 77 for six before some lower-order resistance helped them reach their modest tally.
Smith top-scored with 43 off 63 balls and was the last man out – brilliantly caught by Mike Hussey in the outfield off Clint McKay – while Kieron Pollard (32 off 39) and Denesh Ramdin (30 off 42) got starts but could not hang around long enough. (Eurosport)

WEST INDIES (Maximum: 50 overs)
C. Gayle lbw b Bollinger    0
R. Morton lbw b Bollinger    4
T. Dowlin c wkp. Haddin b McKay    2
L. Simmons c wkp. Haddin b Bollinger    1
N. Deonarine lbw b Johnson    23
D. Ramdin c wkp. Haddin b Watson    30
K. Pollard c Johnson b Bollinger    32
D. Smith c Hussey b McKay    43
N. Miller c Marsh b Hauritz    6
R. Rampaul run-out    18
K Roach not out    0
Extras: (lb-4, w-4, nb-3)    11     
Total: (all out, 39.4 overs)    170
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-11, 3-11, 4-16, 5-62, 6-77, 7-114, 8-125, 9-170. 
Bowling: Bollinger 8-2-28-4, Johnson 8-0-36-1, McKay 7.4-1-33-2, Watson 6-1-24-1, Hauritz 10-0-45-1.
AUSTRALIA (target: 171 from 50 overs)
S. Watson c wkp. Ramdin b Roach    53
S. Marsh b Smith    27
R. Ponting not out    57
M. Clarke not out    27
Extras: (w-6, nb-1)    7     
Total: (2 wkts, 26.3 overs)    171
Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-99.
Bowling: Roach 6-0-44-1, Rampaul 6-0-36-0, Smith 4-0-28-1, Miller 5-0-24-0, Pollard 4-0-28-0, Deonarine 1.3-0-11-0.
Result: Australia won by eight wickets.
Series: Australia lead five-match series 2-0.
Man-of-the-Match: D. Bollinger.
Toss: West Indies.
Umpires: B. Oxenford, B. Bowden; TV – P. Reiffel.