?We ain?t going to give up this trophy easily.?

That was the battle cry from former West Indies Test off spinner Rangy Nanan following the Caribbean team?s six-wicket ICC Champions Trophy semi final win over South Africa in Jaipur, India yesterday.

West Indies, defending ICC Champions Trophy champions, meet perennial rivals Australia in what will be a repeat of the 1975 World Cup Final on Sunday at the Bradbourne Stadium in Mumbai.

The West Indies defeated Australia by ten runs at the same venue earlier this month during the group stage of the tournament, an achievement they?ll undoubtedly be looking to repeat on Sunday.

Trinidadian Nanan yesterday applauded Brian Lara?s team for the ?professional? attitude and approach they have demonstrated throughout the tournament so far, before backing the defending champions to go all the way and successfully defend their title.

?We are the defending champions and that alone is a motivating factor. And the way we have batted in the last two games. . . . we got the runs required to win with overs to spare,? he told

?Chris Gayle showed real professionalism by batting through the entire innings, and somebody had to do that. I was also pleased with our fielding which I thought was impeccable. . . our fielders really supported the bowlers and that made a difference.

?I also admire the professionalism the players have shown and how they are now approaching the game. They are full of confidence and I?m backing them to win on Sunday.?

Gayle returned to peak form by smashing his 15th one day century (133 not out) off 133 balls. He also shared in an awe-inspiring 154 run opening stand with former team skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul (57) who retired hurt in the 26th over with leg cramps shortly after surpassing the 6,000 run milestone in one day internationals.

?I think we could?ve won by ten -wickets if Chanderpaul didn?t get injured,? Nanan continued. ?Hopefully Chanderpaul is okay because he is an important member of the team. Opening the batting we need him up there.

?But looking at how South Africa demolished Pakistan (by 124 runs) I was a little concerned with the dew falling on the pitch (in the second innings). I thought that might have freshened the pitch up a bit and helped South Africa who have good fast bowlers.

?But it wasn?t like that today, and the fellows were keen on chasing. Two hundred and fifty-nine runs was a good target, but we played good cricket today.?

Himself a top spinner during his heyday, naturally, Nanan paid tribute to West Indies spin duo of Marlon Samuels and Gayle. Samuels claimed two for 44 off nine overs while Gayle went wicketless for 48 runs in his ten-over spell.

?I thought both bowlers did their jobs on the day, and I think we should go with the same team on Sunday,? Nanan said.

And in order for the West Indies to succeed on Sunday, he added, special attention will have to be applied to Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and quickie Glenn McGrath.

?We will have to look out for Glenn (McGrath) because when he played against us earlier during the round robin stage of the tournament he was just returning to the team. And so he was short on form,? Nanan said.

?We will also have to keep an eye on Ponting because as long as he stays at the crease anything can happen. So these are the main two players we have to watch out for.

?But on the day itself the team that performs better will win the game, and it?s going to be a tough game. But I am a West Indian and I back the boys one hundred percent.

?Everyone will have a role to play and I?m sure if Lara (West Indies captain Brian Lara) needs to perform on Sunday, then he will do it because he isn?t going to give up this trophy easily.?