Australia beat West Indies by 39 runs in third ODI at Canberra to seal series victory

James Faulkner: Was the pick of Australia's bowlers with four wickets

Shane Watson: Scored a century on his return to international cricket

Australia beat West Indies by 39 runs in the third one-day international at Canberra to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Shane Watson, making his return to international cricket after a month on the sidelines with a calf injury, set up the victory with a superb knock of 122 - his seventh ODI hundred for his country.

That helped the hosts post an imposing total of 329-7 from their 50 overs with Phil Hughes (86) and George Bailey (44) offering able support.

The tourists looked on course to chase down their target at one point as Darren and Dwayne Bravo shared a third-wicket stand of 114 which took them to 195-2.

But after the stand was broken, wickets fell at regular intervals with paceman James Faulkner especially impressive as he finished with four victims, and it was the young left-armer who wrapped up victory by bowling Darren Sammy.

Having won the toss and opted to bat, Watson and Aaron Finch ensured the hosts made a solid start, the openers putting on 89 before Finch edged behind off the bowling of Sammy.

But Watson and Hughes then put the Windies attack to the sword, the former reaching three figures off 102 balls before accelerating with a series of big hits to bring up the home side's 200.

Bailey cameo

Watson eventually departed after top-edging to Kieron Pollard on the boundary off the bowling of Kemur Roach, while it was Pollard who picked up the wicket of Michael Clarke (15) off his own bowling.

But Australia raced past 300 thanks to Bailey's swashbuckling cameo, his quick-fire 44 coming off just 22 balls and containing six fours and a maximum.

West Indies made an aggressive start to their reply with openers Devon Thomas and Kieran Powell sharing in a stand of 54 before Clint McKay had Thomas (19) caught at cover by Hughes in the ninth over.

Powell scored 47 from 49 balls and looked comfortable before top-edging an attempted sweep off Glenn Maxwell and lobbing a legside catch to wicketkeeper Matt Wade.

The Bravos then both contributed half-centuries to lift hopes, but Mitchell Starc broke through by bowling Dwayne (51) and the match swung decisively when Faulkner removed Chris Gayle (two) and then Darren (86) in the same over.

That triggered something of a collapse with the Windies going on to lose their final eight wickets for 95 runs as the series slipped away.

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