World Of Cricket

Barbados: A late cameo from Michael Hussey and a Shane Watson half century helped guide Australia to a thrilling first Test victory over the West Indies as darkness descended over Bridgetown on Wednesday.

Ryan Harris collecting his MOTM Award from Barry O'Brien - CEO of Digicel Barbados © Digicel Cricket

Short Scores:

West Indies 1st Innings: 449/9d in 153.0 overs.

Australia 1st Innings: 406/9d in 145.0 overs.

West Indies 2nd Innings: 148/10 in 66.4 overs.

Australia 2nd Innings: 192/7 in 47.0 overs.

Courtesy: Cricket Australia

The tourists reached their target of 192 with three wickets remaining as the sun set on a dramatic final day at Kensington Oval, sealing a comeback victory to take a 1-0 advantage in the three-Test series.

West Australian Hussey was composed with the bat amid a nervy finish from the tourists, scoring 32 off 26 balls and steadying Australia’s innings after the West Indies took a flurry of middle order wickets.

Kemar Roach bowled Hussey with three runs still required for victory, but man of the match Ryan Harris and Ben Hilfenhaus ensured an Australian victory.

Hilfenhaus struck the winning run at 5.42pm local time with a quick single that was tensely referred to the third umpire, who found the Tasmanian had made his ground in time.

Australia had earlier been in a commanding position of 1-106 after dismissing the West Indies for 148 before lunch.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy dropped Shane Watson on four and it proved costly for the home side as Watson and Ed Cowan combined for a 75-run partnership.

Cowan was also given a lifeline when keeper Carlton Baugh failed to hold on to an edge off Sammy’s bowling.

Off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine gave the West Indies renewed hope, first dismissing Watson and then removing Cowan (34), Ricky Ponting (14) and Michael Clarke (6) within the space of nine balls, leaving Australia needing 52 with five wickets in hand.

Test debutant Matthew Wade added 18 to the chase but was caught in the deep by Devendra Bishoo off Roach, before Hussey and Harris added another 12 runs in their seventh-wicket stand.

Earlier, Australia also had a number of dropped catches, with three opportunities going begging during the first session.

Roach and Bishoo combined for a final wicket stand of 28 and gave the West Indies a chance, while Hilfenhaus finished the innings with 4-27.

Harris dismissed Roach on the final day to claim figures of 3-31, adding to his two first innings wickets and decisive 68 not out when Australia looked to be heading into the second innings with a massive deficit.

It was Australia’s fifth consecutive Test victory following the 4-0 whitewash of India in December and January.

The second Test will take place in Port of Spain beginning on Sunday.

Result: Australia won by 3 wickets.

Man Of The Match: Ryan Harris (Australia).

St Lucia: Australia have survived some late fireworks from West Indies skipper Darren Sammy to produce a solid 30-run win in their final one-day international to draw the ODI series in the Caribbean at 2-2.

David Warner and Shane Watson run between the wickets © Associated Press

Courtesy: Cricket Australia

Heading into the encounter at the Beausejour Cricket Ground on Sunday, the Australians trailed the West Indies 2-1 and were staring down the barrel of their first one-day series loss to the West Indies since 1995.

However, half centuries from stand-in Australian skipper Shane Watson (66), fellow opener David Warner (69) and newcomer Peter Forrest (53) ensured Australia set the hosts a competitive total of 9-281 from their 50 overs.

And it proved too much for the West Indies, who lost wickets early to slump to 7-118 in the 32nd over.

But Sammy gave the hosts a glimmer of hope with a sterling 84 off 50 deliveries as he paired with Andre Russell in a 101-run eighth wicket stand before being was dismissed by Clint McKay to wrap up the innings.

The wicket was a stroke of good fortune for McKay, who spilt a tough caught-and-bowled chance off Sammy in the 37th over, only to see the all-rounder blast him for two sixes and a four from three of the next four deliveries.

Brett Lee, though, produced a quality spell with the ball, taking 3-42 from nine overs while also being promoted up the batting order after his 59 in the fourth ODI, although he managed just 12 runs.

Overall, a 2-2 draw in this series was hardly what Australia expected after an impressive victory in the summer Tri-Series against India and Sri Lanka.

Having won the first game of the five-match series, Australia looked set for a big one-day campaign in the Caribbean.

But the hosts won the second, incredibly tied the third and convincingly defeated Australia in St Lucia on Friday on the back of Kieron Pollard’s blistering 102 off 70 deliveries.

Pollard and his team-mates could not repeat the dose in this encounter, however, making just 33 as his team only managed 252 in reply.

The series result leaves the West Indies rueing Kemar Roach’s suicidal attempted run during the third match in Kingstown last week.

Just when the hosts were on the cusp of victory, Roach set off for a kamikaze single off the third-last ball and was run out, leaving the match tied and costing the West Indies dearly in their long-awaited quest for that series win over Australia.

Australia were given an early boost though, when West Indies skipper Sammy won the toss and elected to bowl, giving the Aussies the opportunity to put some early scoreboard pressure on.

And, that’s exactly what they did as Watson and Warner opened with a 118-run stand, Warner clubbing 10 fours and a six on his way to 69 before being outsmarted by spinner Sunil Narine (2-55).

But Watson and Forrest continued to take on the West Indies attack and while Australia stuttered in the middle order with Brett Lee (12), Forrest and David Hussey (first-ball duck) falling in quick succession, the West Indies couldn’t prevent the visitors setting an imposing total, despite Russell’s impressive 4-61.

Russell was also impressive in his gallant late stand with Sammy but even after he fell lbw on review to Xavier Doherty, Sammy did not give up, pulling the required target to 31 from the last 17 balls until he was the last man out, caught at deep midwicket.

Result: Australia won by 30 runs.

Man Of The Match: Darren Sammy (West Indies).

Result Of The Series: Series Drawn (2-2).

Man Of The Series: Kieron Pollard (West Indies).

St Vincent: The West Indies lost their last seven wickets for just 43 runs as Australia claimed a 64-run victory in the first one-day international in Kingstown on Friday.

Australia's players celebrate after securing a 64-run win that puts them 1-0 up in the series © AFP

Courtesy: Cricket Australia

The hosts looked on track to chase down Australia’s paltry total of 8-204 as Dwayne Bravo (32) and Marlon Samuels (35) had the hosts in a comfortable position at 3-97.

But some fine work by spinner Xavier Doherty, who claimed 4-49, saw the West Indies collapse to be eventually dismissed for just 140 in the 33rd over, with only some late hitting from captain Darren Sammy (35) getting them anywhere near the target.

But despite some impressive captaincy by Shane Watson in just his second match overseeing the Australian team, the tourists know their batting will have to substantially improve over the remaining ODI matches after only two batsmen, George Bailey (48) and Dave Warner (40) made anything close to a half-century.

Watson won the toss and chose to bat, though, with himself and opening partner David Warner posting 31 before the skipper was trapped lbw by Dwayne Bravo for 21.

Peter Forrest (26) and Warner then added another 60 before they were both dismissed in the space of five balls from part-timer Marlon Samuels, and when David Hussey fell cheaply three overs later, the Australians were in danger of squandering their good start.

But Mike Hussey and one-day international debutant Bailey steadied the ship, putting on 63 for the fifth wicket before Hussey fell for 26.

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The tourists struggled to get the West Indies bowlers away in the final overs, but Bailey and Dan Christian (18 not out) managed to help lift the score past 200 by the end of the 50 overs.

Dwayne Bravo was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 3-58, while Kemar Roach and Samuels both claimed two scalps.

The West Indies chase got off to a rocky start with Kieran Powell, Johnson Charles and Darren Bravo all falling cheaply within the first 10 overs.

Struggling at 3-33, Dwayne Bravo and Samuels resurrected the West Indies chase with some intelligent batting.

But, just as the pair looked settled at the crease, Christian clean bowled Bravo to spark an almighty collapse, with the hosts losing their next six wickets for just seven runs.

Skipper Sammy swung the bat late in a desperate attempt to claim victory, but Clint McKay had him caught by Christian for 35 as the visitors got their Caribbean tour off to the perfect start.

Result: Australia won by 64 runs.

Man Of The Match: George Bailey (Australia).

Victoria: Cricket Australia announced squad for the test series against West Indies which will start from April 07. Brad Haddin is back with Michael Beer. Peter Forrest will debut.

Australia's selectors, John Inverarity, Rod Marsh and Andy Bichel © Getty Images

Michael Clarke will lead the team whereas Shane Watson will be the vice-captain. Watson will be returning to test cricket arena almost after 4 months. The future of Cricket Australia – Peter Forrest won his place in the Australian squad and he’ll be looking to perform straightaway.

Brad Haddin is called back for the tests, selectors thinks he is still best for the tests job. Mathew Wade is also inducted with him and he’ll be looking for a shot to make his debut.

For showing good performance in Sheffield Shield season, Michael Beer also won a place in the side, he will be sharing spin department with Nathan Lyon.

Patrick Cummins who will be turning 19 on May 08; wasn’t considered because of being unfit.

National selector, John Inverarity said: “The National Selection Panel has decided on a squad of 16 for this very important tour of the West Indies.”

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“The NSP believes the inclusion of five fast bowlers, two spinners and two wicket-keepers will provide important flexibility and cover for any injuries that may occur in a country that is not easily accessible by replacement or standby players.”

“It is anticipated Michael Clarke will be fully recovered and take his place as Captain for the first Test match in Barbados beginning on Saturday 7 April.”

“Shane Watson will come back into the Test XI and he could replace Shaun Marsh in the vitally important number three position while James Pattinson’s availability will be welcomed after his excellent performances during the first four Test matches of his career during the Australian summer.”

“Patrick Cummins was not considered for selection as his fitness is not well enough progressed.”

Australia’s test squad for the series against West Indies:

Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson, Michael Beer, Ed Cowan, Peter Forrest, Brad Haddin (wk), Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner.