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Long before 8 a.m. yesterday, the sounds of drums, horns, cymbals, whistles and triangles were reverberating around the new Queen's Park cricket stadium.

And even when it was obvious that the West Indies would lose the second Cable & Wireless One-Day International against Australia, the noises continued to echo.

Australia comfortably won by 46 runs, their series-equalling victory set up by a commanding century from Darren Lehmann and his record stand with Michael Bevan, but that made no difference to the spirits of the capacity crowd packed in for the historic match.

Even when the final rites were performed, the majority of the 15 000 in the stands were still in a festive mood, their satisfaction gleaned from the pleasure of Grenada hosting only their second international match in a facility completely transformed from when India were here 16 years ago.

Played out in an electrifying atmosphere, the match was over as a genuine contest halfway into the West Indies innings.

Australia, defending a challenging 288 for four off their allotted 50 overs, seized a decisive advantage midway through the West Indies' reply.

Sherwin Campbell and Jimmy Adams, the two architects of the West Indies' effort in the opening match, again built another constructive partnership, 74 in 17.2 overs, before Australia fought back on a steamy, sun-baked afternoon.

The left-handed Adams played freely for 40 off 56 balls, while Campbell was less convincing for his 46 from 77 balls, but once both paid for playing across the line, the West Indies could not find anyone to play a match-winning innings.

The hosts were 118 for three after 25 overs, three runs more than Australia were at the corresponding stage with the same number of wickets in hand. The match was lost by the dismissals of Campbell, Carl Hooper and Keith Arthurton, the trio perishing in the space of five overs and 15 runs.

Stuart Williams, driving with style as usual, and Phil Simmons, with some typically powerful cut shots, entertained the crowd, as did Curtly Ambrose, but by then the asking rate had become virtually out of reach.

Ambrose provided the final piece of entertainment when his almighty swish against Brendon Julian resulted in part of his bat falling to pieces. Courtney Walsh brought out four possible replacement bats for him and Ambrose responded by clobbering the next ball over long-on for six. All hell broke loose.

Within a couple of balls, though, Ambrose was run out by Shane Lee's direct throw from backward square-leg and the West Indies were all out for 242 with 15 balls remaining.

West Indies, chasing a run-rate of 5.78, were always on the back-burner from the time Shivnarine Chanderpaul was out to a stupendous right-handed catch by Lee at point in the first over.

There was even more worry when captain Brian Lara, attempting a pull, dragged his 13th ball into the stumps to give Damien Fleming his second wicket in his third over.

Campbell and Adams started the repair job positively, but were unable to conquer the varied leg-spin of Shane Warne, who had the impressive figures of three for 39 from 10 overs.

Warne won his duel against Adams by bowling him, and Campbell, like his partner, did not play with a straight bat and was bowled by medium-pacer Lee, who was also Australia's finest fielder on the day.

When Hooper gifted his wicket for the umpteenth time to Steve Waugh's gentle medium-pace, casually hitting a return catch, and Arthurton played Lee into his stumps, the West Indies' chances were as good as gone.

Choosing to bat on winning the toss, Australia took advantage of a plu-perfect pitch and lightning-fast outfield in reaching their highest ever score against the West Indies in the abbreviated form of the game.

There were useful contributions from the top of the order with Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martin moving along to the extent that Australia were able to maintain a scoring rate of more than four runs an over during the first half of the innings.

But, the highlight was a record fifth-wicket partnership between Lehmann and Bevan, the left-handed pair adding 172 from the last 24.2 overs.

Lehmann, taller and stockier, struck the ball cleanly and crisply from his first ball (which was firmly cut for four, to his last, which was banged down to backward point for his 10th four which carried him to an unbeaten 110 off 92 balls.

Bevan, less spectacular, but just as effective, lashed 72 not out from 74 balls, his partnership with Lehmann being the highest between two Australians against the West Indies and bettering the previous best fifth-wicket stand against all countries.

It was Lehmann's second century in his 40th One-Day International and the consistent Bevan was undefeated for an amazing 34th time in 87 innings in which he averages more than 60. The way in which he silently accumulated his runs showed why Australians call him ``The Finisher'' in this form of the game.

When he and Lehmann were finished, so were the West Indies as it turned out.

More from The Barbados Nation ...

Aussies Level One-Dayers

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada - Australia drew level with the West Indies in the Cable & Wireless One-Day series with a 46-run victory before a sell-out crowd at the new Queen's Park Stadium yesterday.

A record fifth-wicket partnership of 172 between century-maker Darren Lehmann and Michael Bevan set up Australia's score of 288 for four, a high figure in the Caribbean, and the West Indies fell for 242 in 47.3 overs.

Lehmann, who won the Man-Of-The-Match award, hammered an unbeaten 110 from just 92 balls with ten fours and a six. His first 50 came off 48 balls and his second off just 40. Bevan's 72 was scored off 74 balls.

The seven-match series is locked one-all after the West Indies' victory by 44 runs in St. Vincent on Sunday.

The action moves to Trinidad with back-to-back matches on Saturday and Sunday.