'In form' Watson guides Australia to emphatic nine-wicket win over India in T20 WC

Colombo, Sep 29: All rounder Shane Watson won his third consecutive man of the match award in the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup after he claimed 3-34 and struck 72 off 42 balls to lift Australia to an emphatic nine-wicket win over India in the Super Eights match in Colombo on Friday.

Watson shared a first-wicket stand of 133 with David Warner (63 not out) as Australia eased past India''s 140-7 in the 15th over.

The pair hammered the Indian bowlers all over the field as Warner lofted Harbhajan Singh for two successive sixes and Watson hit leg-spinner Piyush Chawla for two sixes in his first over.

Watson''s match-winning display followed his 51 and 3-26 against Ireland and 41 not out and 2-29 in the second game against the West Indies.

Australia join Pakistan, who beat South Africa by two wickets earlier on Friday, at the top of group two with one win each.

Pathan hit two fours and a six, but India lost three wickets in seven balls to slip from a comfortable 70-2 to 74-5.

Watson claimed two wickets in one over, forcing Yuvraj to hole out in the deep before getting Pathan caught in the covers.

India could only manage a below par score of 140 in their stipulated 20 overs.

In the next round of matches on Sunday, Australia takes on South Africa and India clash with Pakistan at the same venue.