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Having seen off India’s timid challenge, Australia and West Indies willcontest bragging rights in the DLF Cup final in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. For the first time in a competition where they have experimented with all types ofcombinations, Australia will be fielding their strongest side, and a WestIndian team missing the experience and canny swing bowling of CoreyCollymore will have its work cut out to be competitive.The two teams split the two matches in the league phase, with West Indieshaving squandered a tremendous opportunity in the tournament opener, whenthey went from 172 for 1 to 201 all out. On Sunday though, they’ll facethe world’s most potent new-ball attack, with Glenn McGrath and Brett Leein tandem for only the second time in the competition. The support cast isno less impressive, with the ever-improving Shane Watson and NathanBracken, and West Indies would also do well to be wary of Brad Hogg, whosorted out a couple of Indian batsmen with his variations on Friday night.The batting order, even without the hulking figure of Matthew Hayden -rested in view of not being part of the Champions Trophy squad – isimposing, with Damien Martyn likely to miss out from the twelve chosen forthe game. Simon Katich and Watson should open the innings, with RickyPonting, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds and Michael Hussey forming afrightening middle order. Brad Haddin’s effervescent efforts with the bathave made the absence of Adam Gilchrist seem like a trifling problem, andHogg too is no Bugs Bunny with the bat.West Indies’ prospects will depend entirely on the top order, capable ofshredding any attack on a good day. Brian Lara leads the way, and his 87in the last game against Australia was touched with genius. Chris Gayle,Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul have also shown signs ofexceptional form at various times in the tournament, and West Indies wouldlove all four to make an impact against a bowling line-up that will be atthem from the outset.Jerome Taylor’s raw pace complements Ian Bradshaw’s control with the newball, and Dwayne Smith has performed creditably in his outings with theball, swinging it late with great accuracy. But Dwayne Bravo has had anindifferent series, and plenty of worries remain about the fragility ofthe middle order. Wavell Hinds scratched around dreadfully in the lastmatch against India, and Marlon Samuels may just have played his way outof the XI.With a thigh injury depriving them of Collymore’s services, West Indies’only real hope is to bat big and hope to pressure Australia’s batsmen intomistakes. Chasing against the likes of Lee and McGrath is a difficult taskat the best of times, and as India found out yesterday, the anaconda gripgets you eventually.TeamsAustralia 1 Simon Katich, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4Michael Clarke, 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8Brad Hogg, 9 Brett Lee, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Glenn McGrathWest Indies 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 3 RamnareshSarwan, 4 Brian Lara (capt), 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Wavell Hinds, 7 RunakoMorton, 8 Dwayne Smith, 9 Carlton Baugh (wk), 10, Ian Bradshaw, 11 JeromeTaylor

ScorecardFile photo – Bilawal Bhatti’s figures of 8 for 56 were his best in first-class cricket, as were his match figures of 11 for 95•AFP

An eight-wicket haul from Bilawal Bhatti shot out United Bank Limited for 189 in their second innings, leaving Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited chasing a target of 160 to win the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. SNGPL’s chase got off to a rocky start, however, as they ended the third day 56 for 3, with the experienced pair of Azhar Ali and Misbah-ul-Haq at the crease.The second day had ended with Bhatti dismissing the opener Sharjeel Khan to leave UBL 17 for 1 – effectively minus 13 for 1. The third day began with Bhatti needing to bowl one ball to complete his over. He had Umar Siddiq caught behind off that ball.UBL avoided giving Bhatti the hat-trick, but Azizullah bowled Shan Masood and Sohaib Maqsood in between. The two SNGPL quicks had taken four wickets in the space of seven balls, conceding only two runs in the process.From 19 for 4, UBL recovered thanks to Younis Khan’s 128-ball 98, which contained 16 fours. He dominated a fifth-wicket partnership of 141 with Hammad Azam before Bhatti bowled him. There was little resistance thereafter, as Bhatti swept through the lower order, picking up the remaining wickets as UBL lost their last six wickets for 29 runs. Five of Bhatti’s eight wickets – and seven of ten overall – were either bowled or lbw.Bhatti’s figures of 8 for 56 were his best in first-class cricket, as were his match figures of 11 for 95.

The inquest into the death of former Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer entered its seventh week with coroner Patrick Murphy summarising the statements of five more witnesses on Monday. Murphy had been unwell last week and unable to complete his summary.The inquest in Kingston, Jamaica, heard evidence from 57 witnesses and statements from seven other persons. The 11-member jury is expected to deliver its verdict within this week. In the event of the jury failing to agree, the court would accept a majority verdict.Woolmer died hours after he was found unconscious in his Jamaica hotel room on March 18, a day after Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat to Ireland at the World Cup. Dr Ere Seshaiah, the government pathologist who conducted the post mortem, declared that Woolmer was murdered but three independent pathologists all concluded later that Woolmer died due to natural causes.

Dav Whatmore arrives in Pakistan on Wednesday hoping to push further his credentials as the next coach of Pakistan. Whatmore will be interviewed by the PCB on Thursday as a potential candidate for the position, the third Australian the board has interviewed this week.Earlier in the week, Richard Done, the ICC high-performance manager and former New South Wales fast bowler, and Geoff Lawson, former Test cricketer, were also interviewed. Lawson yesterday visited the national team’s conditioning camp currently underway in Abbottabad, meeting with senior players and officials.One of the three will become Pakistan’s coach though Zakir Khan, director operations PCB and a member of the three-man committee to find a coach, stressed again the decision will not be taken in haste.Khan didn’t confirm that an appointment will be made by July 1, the date set by chairman Nasim Ashraf, to announce a new coach to succeed the late Bob Woolmer. “It is premature to give an exact date right now. After the interviews of the three, our committee will compile a report and present our choice to the chairman, who will take it to the ad-hoc committee. Only then will a decision be made,” Khan told Cricinfo.The board has been tight-lipped about its preferences from the three in recent days. Khan said that the interviews had gone well and that all three had excellent qualifications. “They were shortlisted because of their qualifications and on the basis of past achievements.”Until recently, Whatmore was understood to be the board’s top choice, the only hitch being his interest in the position of India coach. With that now out of the way, the path appears clear for Whatmore to take over. But the board is said to be impressed by Done as well, and he would seemingly fit in with some officials’ wishes that the new coach be a low-key personality willing to prove himself internationally with Pakistan.Meanwhile Javed Miandad, former captain and three-time coach, continued his criticism of the board’s policy for selecting a coach by pointing out that Lawson had not officially applied for the position.Miandad disagreed with the board’s decision to publicly advertise the vacancy and invite applications arguing that no coach of substance would apply in such a way. Lawson made clear before arriving in Pakistan that the board had contacted him and not the other way round.Miandad told , “Now I ask the PCB: where does it stand? Instead of considering the applications of those candidates who have applied for the post, it is contacting those who did not apply.”

Inzamam-ul-Haq, former Pakistan captain, wants to play Test matches for some more time before retiring “in an honourable manner.”Inzamam retired from ODIs after a disastrous World Cup and resigned from the Test captaincy. The PCB is expected to leave out Inzamam from its list of centrally-contracted players, on the basis that he is no longer an ODI player. Further, sounds coming out of the board and selection committee suggest that it may be difficult for Inzamam to find a way back into the team.”I am not going to play for long but I do want to play a few more Tests as I think I can still contribute to Pakistan cricket,” Inzamam said at a function where he was feted for his contribution to the game.”I don’t understand why they (selectors) keep on saying things about my form and fitness. Obviously if I am not fit or not in form I myself will not make myself available for selection,” Inzamam said.”But the selectors should not make such a big issue of these things. I want to play Test matches but honourably and I also want to finally retire in an honourable manner,” he added.Tauqir Zia, the former board chairman, at the same function reminded Inzamam that every player had to go someday, mindful perhaps that few Pakistan players have ever left the game graciously.”What I would advise Inzamam is to accept whatever the board and selectors decide for him. What they decide, will be in the national interest and their decision must be accepted sportingly by him,” Tauqir said.Inzamam, who has played 119 Tests and 378 One-day Internationals (ODIs) for Pakistan, ruled out reversing his retirement from ODIs and said once a player retired, he should stay retired.”It is never easy for a professional cricketer, who has represented his country for 17 years, to forget the past and adopt a new lifestyle. But I have taken my decision on one-dayers,” he said.