Australia 235 St. George's 182-9 Australia opened their three match tour of Bermuda with a convincing 53 run victory over a St. George's Select at Wellington Oval yesterday.

Such was the domination of the visitors that they clearly toyed with the opposition near the end of the match, much to the delight of a large crowd which appeared to thoroughly enjoy the antics provided by the Aussies.

For St. George's the writing was on the wall once they allowed Australia to post a menacing target of 235 from 48 overs, a total the home side never remotely looked like attaining.

After losing the toss and being ordered to bat, Australia, taking a page out of the West Indies' notebook, adopted a cavalier approach against a modest bowling attack.

Loose balls -- and several good ones -- were treated with disdain and while wickets fell regularly, the score was continually pushed along at a brisk rate.

Youngster Justin Langer, who opened with Greg Blewett, anchored the innings with a painstaking knock of 36. Langer acted in a support role for the most part, allowing the other batsmen to be more aggressive.

Langer was finally sixth out, caught just in front of the square leg boundary by Anthony Braithwaite attempting a big hit off spinner David Adams.

Counted in his innings were three fours and a six.

His score was later topped by Paul Reiffel, coming in at number eight, who cracked an unbeaten 43.. In between, Ricky Ponting produced a whirlwind knock of 29 that included five fours and a six, while Michael Slater (22), Mark Waugh (20) and Shane Warne (25) also aided in the cause.

"We weren't too sure how to approach the batting and then the wicket was a bit soft this morning, it was spinning a lot and we didn't really know how many runs would be enough, which often happens in these sort of games,'' said Ian Healy, deputising as captain in place of a resting Mark Taylor.

"But our tail pulled us through okay and brought us up to 235 which was good.

Probably 160 would have been enough for a start, so we were going to be okay, but yeah it was certainly cavalier and I don't think it's going to change.'' Still, there were a few bright spots for St. George's, with paceman Dale Fox, Adams and workhorse Clevie Wade enjoying marginal success.

Fox claimed the wickets of Ponting and Greg Blewett (two) while generating a lively pace during his opening spell, although he was hammered by the Aussie tail when re-introduced from the eastern end later on.

Adams too enjoyed a degree of success as he often had the batsmen playing and missing his wrist spinners, which he varied well to retur figures of two-for-38 from 10 overs.

Meanwhile, Wade took three-for-46 including the prized wicket of Mark Waugh, one of the heroes of the fourth Test in the West Indies where he scored a century during a record breaking fourth wicket partnership with twin brother Steve.

Arnold Manders also chipped in with two scalps. However it was Adams who unquestionably caused the most trouble and Healy admitted as much.

"He's not bad,'' said Healy, arguably the best wicketkeeper/batsman in the game. "He'll get a lot of wickets bowling on this wicket here, because it does spin and bounces for him. He has variation and bowls a leg spinner and an off spinner, so if he can do that he's going to get some batsmen out.

"He's not too bad at all.'' Australia were struck a blow early in the St. George's innings when right-arm fast bowler Glenn McGrath suffered a lower-back strain during his third over, an injury that will likely deny him appearing in any more matches during the tour.

But his absence mattered little as St. George's were never allowed to settle down against the Aussie attack, despite the fact that none appeared to be going at full throttle.

After inching to 24, the hosts watched a regular procession to and from the pavilion, starting with Gregory Sampson (eight), who opened with Eugene Foggo (11).

Four `ducks' were recorded, with Arnold Manders, Clevie Wade, Cleon Scotland and Lewis Foggo all failing to get off the mark.

It was left to skipper Graham Fox (28) and his tailenders to show the way with gritty knocks while under pressure.

Anthony Braithwaite top scored with a brisk 42 that included four fours and four sixes, while Dale Fox (31 not out), Ricky Hodsoll (20) and Adams (16 not out) also made solid contributions.

For the Aussies Carl Rackemann, Tim May and Paul Reiffel each claimed two wickets, while `part-timers' Langer and Slater took one wicket each.

What did St. George's think of the contest? "I thought it was a nice experience to play against the Australians,'' said St. George's vice-captain Ricky Hodsoll afterwards. "Their fielding is next to none, plus I'm an Australian fan, so I like the way they play anyway.

"I figured we could have kept them under 200 the way we were going and had them 147-for-seven, but things just got out of hand and they just took us apart. To play against the world champions is an honour and I really enjoyed it.'' COSTLY MISS -- Aussie Tim May has his stumps shattered by a Eugene Foggo delivery as St. George's wicketkeeper Lewis Foggo looks on.

ON THE FRONT FOOT -- Justin Langer hits out during his innings of 36 much to the dismay of wicketkeeper Lewis Foggo.

Photos by David Skinner STRIDING OUT -- Australian Michael Slater shapes up to play a delivery from St. George's paceman Dale Fox in his innings of 22.