MUMBAI, India - Captain Ricky Ponting has fired a rocket at his side for undisciplined batting which he says cost Australia any hope of winning today's Champions Trophy cricket match against West Indies.
The Windies celebrated a memorable upset win by 10 runs, scoring 234 for six then restricting the
world champion side to 224 for nine with paceman Jerome Taylor completing a hat-trick in the last over of the game and finishing with a match-winning 4-49.
Taylor removed Ponting for one then in the 48th and 50th overs had Mike Hussey (13), Brett Lee (0) and Brad Hogg (10) sent back to the pavilion.
Australia had been 81 for four before Michael Clarke (47) and Adam Gilchrist (92) shared a 101-run stand to put their side back in the match against the defending champions.
But a mix-up which led to Gilchrist's run out in the 42nd over triggered a collapse of 5-37 in the closing overs.
"We can't blame the wicket or the conditions, we have to blame ourselves for some ill-disciplined batting and some ill-disciplined bowling at times as well," Ponting said.
Opener Shane Watson (0) and middle-order batsmen Damien Martyn (17) and Andrew Symonds (18) were among the Australians whose shot selection could be questioned, with Symonds aiming a wild slog attempt and getting bowled by spinner Chris Gayle at 4-81.
A clash between Clarke and Gayle appeared to become quite heated with the pair brushing shoulders as Clarke ran between wickets.
An ICC spokesman said on-field umpires, South Africa's Rudi Koertzen and England's Mark Benson, had made no mention of any incidents in their report to match referee Mike Procter.
A century stand between Brian Lara (71) and unlikely hero Runako Morton (90 not out) lifted West Indies to the competitive total of 6-234.
Skipper Lara didn't take the field in Australia's innings, struck down by a back complaint.
NSW left-armer Nathan Bracken was Australia's only multiple wicket-taker with 2-42.
The Australians travel north to Jaipur today and will train there on Friday in preparation for Saturday's vital clash with England.
Diwali celebrations are sure to provide some extra spark to a match already holding much interest, with fireworks expected to dominate the Jaipur skyline on Saturday as part of the Hindu Festival of Light.
- AAP
MUMBAI, India - Captain Ricky Ponting has fired a rocket at his side for undisciplined batting which he says cost Australia any hope of winning today's Champions Trophy cricket match against West Indies.
The Windies celebrated a memorable upset win by 10 runs, scoring 234 for six then restricting the
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