BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) Wicket-keeper Matthew Wade struck an unbeaten 57 off 52 balls here Sunday to lift Australia to 270-9 off 50 overs against the West Indies in the final of the one-day international cricket tri-series at Kensington Oval.
The little left-hander slammed two fours and three sixes as his top-score guided a handy lower order contribution after the tourists had slipped to 173-6 in the 37th over.
Opener Aaron Finch contributed 47 and captain Steve Smith hit 46 but wickets fell at regular intervals throughout.
West Indies skipper Jason Holder took 2-51 and fellow fast bowler Shannon Gabriel grabbed 2-58.
Holder grabbed the early scalp of Usman Khawaja (14) as Australia batted first on winning the toss. The left-hander edged a flashing drive to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin.
Smith shared useful stands of 41 with Finch and 51 with George Bailey to lay a solid platform.
Finch, who struck six fours and a six off 41 balls, holed out to deep midwicket off the medium pace of Kieron Pollard, while Bailey deflected Carlos Brathwaite back onto his stumps at 120-3.
When Gabriel removed Smith and Glenn Maxwell in the same over, the West Indies were on top at 156-5.
Smith skied a pull while Maxwell was plainly lbw.
Mitchell Marsh crossed 1,000 one-day runs in compiling 32 off 45 balls but Australia dipped further when he was bowled off the inside edge by left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn.
But Wade starred in the latter overs with useful contributions also coming from Mitchell Starc (15) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (15).
