WATCH, IML | Watson turns back the years with nine maximums in devastating ton against WI Masters

Australia Masters succumbed to a seven-wicket defeat in their tournament opener against the West Indies Masters on Monday at the DY Patil Stadium despite setting a formidable target of 217. Lendl Simmons played the starring role with a 44-ball 94 after Dwayne Smith's opening blitzkrieg of 51 in just 29 deliveries, and rapid cameos from Brian Lara and Chadwick Walton ensured the Caribbean outfit killed the game off with four balls to spare. However, the knock of the night remained a roll-back-the-years effortless masterclass from the genius that is Shane Watson, his 52-ball 107 responsible for taking Australia to 216/8 as others crumbled around him.

Opening the batting, the skipper began with a gorgeous cover drive off the very first ball for four. The assault gathered pace when the 43-year-old struck Suleiman Benn for two boundaries and a maximum in the fifth over, before bringing up a 28-ball half-century with two more consecutive fours off the spinner soon after. Boundaries came everywhere and through every shot, from cuts through point and pulls through square leg to lofted drives down the ground but the pick of the shots came in the 14th over when Watson nonchalantly picked up a back of the length delivery from Dwayne Smith for a massive maximum and then executed another powerful flick later in the over after having brought up his ton.

Watson ultimately fell victim to Ashley Nurse in the 18th over, with none of his teammates even managing to cross the 35-run mark, and despite not earning victory the knock served as a reminder of the lethality that the all-rounder possessed in his heydays.