Australia weathered a hurricane opening stand from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle then engineered a frantic West Indian collapse to register a 78 run victory in the first match of the DLF Cup in Malaysia.

The West Indies plummeted from 1-171, in pursuit of Australia's middling 9-279, to 201 all out in 34.3 overs, a scarcely believable slide of 9-30.

At one point the Windies seemed destined to celebrate their first win over Australia in a live game of cricket - before a series had been decided - since 1999, but in the end were left lamenting as Mitchell Johnson (2-65), Shane Watson (4-42) and returning veteran Glenn McGrath (1-30) wrapped up the innings with alarming speed.

Earlier, Michael Clarke (81, 79 balls, nine fours) was the only Australian batsman to build a truly substantial score for himself, and the overall impression was of a team rediscovering its sea legs after more than three months away from the game.

Ricky Ponting (54), Simon Katich (36) and Mark Cosgrove (34 from 38 balls) also contributed.

After Ponting had won the toss, Phil Jaques' bid for a permanent opening spot made a halting start when he slipped out of his left shoe while going for a first run, and shortly thereafter the pace and swing of Fidel Edwards pierced his crooked forward stroke.

Ponting alleviated some early tension by looking safe as usual, taking particular toll on Jerome Taylor (3-59), who learned a costly lesson after thinking he could trouble Ponting with short balls.

Ponting reached 50 in 49 balls, until Ian Bradshaw (2-36) pinned him lbw with an awkward delivery that kept low.

Katich was out to a tired shot, and after Cosgrove and Clarke consolidated, the South Australian left-hander signalled the charge by crashing Edwards for three boundaries in five balls.

His dismissal left Clarke and Brad Haddin to swell the final tally amid a flurry of late wickets.

McGrath rejoined the international arena with typical thrift, apart from a few rusty wides, but the same could not be said of his teammates as Gayle (58) and Chanderpaul (92) piled on early runs.

Kicked along by five sixes, the left-handed pair sprinted to 0-136 in less than 18 overs before Gayle sliced Watson to point.

Chanderpaul had a life and six runs when McGrath caught him with two feet on the midwicket boundary rope, and had raced into the 90s when Johnson surprised him with some extra bounce for a caught behind.

Brian Lara very nearly edged onto his stumps first ball, and on one he was struck plumb in front while making his characteristic shuffle across the crease.

Interestingly, it was the second time in two attempts, the other a Queensland v West Indies tour match last year, that Johnson has defeated Lara.

Softened up by Johnson, Dwayne Bravo was coaxed into a skied pull shot off McGrath, and suddenly the game was re-opened to Australia.

Ponting surprised by handing the ball to international rookie Cosgrove, who responded with the wicket of Hinds - a thin edge to Haddin - second ball.

Next over Sarwan (22) lathered Watson to midwicket where Ponting took a breathtaking catch, diving to his left, to send the Windies into freefall and defeat.

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