West Indies: ST GEORGE'S: A balanced top-order display saw West Indies post a solid if not spectacular total in the third one-day international against Australia yesterday.

Chris Gayle led the way for the hosts with 53 from 54 balls at the National Cricket Stadium, while solid knocks from Xavier Marshall (35), Ramnaresh Sarwan (31) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (32) set the Windies on their way to 223 all out after 48 overs.

Gayle's exploits were far and away the highlight of the innings, the Windies skipper crunching five fours and three maximums as the hosts made a bright start in their bid to claw back a 2-0 deficit in the best-of five series.

Opener Gayle took off at a run-a-ball pace before registering his 36th one-day international half-century in 53 deliveries. But the left-hander was dismissed with the very next delivery, run out after backing up with Marshall at the bowler's end.