Australia's World Cup quest - and Brett Lee's world standing - were spiked with an intoxicating shot of confidence when they reduced the West Indies to a laughing stock in the one-day final in Malaysia last night.
And plans for next month's Champions Trophy – the only major tournament Australia has never won – got a major boost with a 127-run flogging inspired by brilliant man-of-the-series Lee (4-27).
The West Indies were so bad that hapless opener Runako Morton became a sports trivia question when he was dismissed for a world record duck, taking 31 dot balls before he was trapped lbw by Nathan Bracken.
It was a rollercoaster from the first ball when Lee trapped Chris Gayle with a peach of an inswinging yorker that will leave the batsman with an aching toe for weeks. Chasing Australia's 6-240, the West Indians were bowled out for 113. Lee and Nathan Bracken (3-15) enhanced their reputation as the world's best performed limited overs bowlers this year by befuddling the West Indies.
It has been a truly magnificent series for Lee who has taken 12 wickets at the amazing average of nine in the three matches he has played.
Australia were criticised for using players as experimental guinea pigs during the tournament, most notably sending blossoming paceman Mitchell Johnson home early, but then showed their class to save their best performance for the end.
But another umpiring howler still managed to take centre stage last night as Brian Lara copped the latest dud decision of the series.
English umpire Mark Benson, the same official who mistakenly ruled Sachin Tendulkar out and then reversed his decision last week, jabbed his finger in the air when Lara pushed his bat into pad while playing at Bracken. A furious Lara, who missed the ball by a clear margin, stood dumbfounded before he circled the jubilant Australian huddle, possibly waiting to be recalled.
Ignored by the Australians, Lara slowly walked off the field as the victim of the latest shocker in a series marred by poor umpiring decisions.
Bracken can't get a go in Test cricket but his impressive 2006 returns have made him a must-have for Australia's World Cup campaign next April. Australian opener Simon Katich would have been glad to see Morton's mind-boggling none off 31 because it took some of the attention of his own slow scoring.
Katich suffocated Australia's top-order and left further question marks over his international future as he crawled his way to four off 33 balls at one stage. Watching the left-hander eke out singles was described by former Australian Test quick Jeff Thomson as "like watching paint dry." With Katich in sleep-mode, Australia wasted the first 20 crucial powerplay overs and reached 2-63 in that period.
After a mini Andrew Symonds hurricane (52 off 59), stylish rescue work from Damien Martyn (52 off 77) and some good lower order hitting saw Australia finish with a rush of 75 runs off the last 10 overs.
Katich finally departed for 25 off 66 balls when he played a rare aggressive shot, ending his innings when Chris Gayle had him caught at long-off.
With the rested Adam Gilchrist set to return to the opening position and Australia discovering Shane Watson as a new opening option, Katich now faces an uphill struggle to retain his spot.
- BEN DORRIES