Without really seeming to, the Aussies picked up the pace in the middle overs, moving from 100-150 in 42 balls, and from there to 200 in another 45.

Mathew Hayden was the man in the engine room, ticking over the singles relentlessly, pouncing on anything errant by way of line and length, and just occasionally shimmying around in his crease or down the track to create opportunities.

Perhaps the most extraordinary hit in a controlled innings came in the 32nd over, when Hayden danced down the track, found Marlon Samuels dropping the ball short as counter, and without checking his intent, went through with the shot, hitting it one handed to get reach.

The ball, incredibly, soared over the long off boundary for six - tribute to the perfect marriage of intent with sheer brute force.

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