BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Setup by powerful batting from openers David Warner and Shane Watson, Australia romped to a comfortable 45-run victory over India in the Twenty20 World Cup yesterday.

Warner smote seven sixes and two fours in the top score of 72 from 42 balls, and Watson struck one four and six sixes in 54 from 32 balls in an opening stand of 104, as Australia posted 184 for five from their allocation of 20 overs in the third match of the Super Eights.

Shaun Tait then captured three wickets for 21 runs from 3.4 overs, and Dirk Nannes collected three for 25 from four overs, as Australia’s fast bowlers then exploited a hard, true Kensington Oval pitch to dismiss India for 135 in 17.4 overs.

Only two Indian batsmen reached double figure — Rohit Sharma struck four fours and six sixes in an unbeaten 79 from 46 balls, and Harbhajan Singh, batting at nine, made 13.

The match was over as a genuine contest, when India crashed to 50 for seven in the 11th over.