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Matthew Hayden leaves Australia in strong position

Australian batsman Matthew Hayden raises his bat as he walks from the field after being dismissed during the World Cup Cricket Super Eight match against the West Indies at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium in St. John's, Antigua, on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP

Matthew Hayden's commanding innings of 158 left world champions Australia in a strong position against hosts West Indies before rain forced the opening Super Eight match of this World Cup into a second day.

Hayden's record-breaking display was the centerpiece of Australia's 322 for six after they'd lost the toss.

But rain, which had been falling steadily during the Australia innings, meant the West Indies' reply never got started in the first major match staged at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

The match was to be resumed at 1:30pm GMT yesterday with the hosts chasing 323 to win off 50 overs.

Earlier, Hayden produced one of the great World Cup innings, providing a master-class in how to pace a big score after taking 18 balls to get off the mark following West Indies captain Brian Lara's decision to field first in overcast conditions.

His hundred, his second in as many matches, was the highest score by an Australian at the World Cup, surpassing the 143 not out made by Andrew Symonds four years ago against Pakistan in Johannesburg, and the ninth best in the history of the tournament.

This innings came after Hayden's 101 in the 83-run win against South Africa on Saturday.

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