Lara brilliance leads WI over Aus A

A thrilling Brian Lara hundred sealed a 4-wicket win for the West Indians, as their VB Series preparations continued. The innings featured 11 fours and 4 sixes among 116 total runs off just 86 balls. The knock was one of true quality and led from the front in the chase of Australia A's 263/8.

The innings of the Australians was also based largely around one innings. David Hussey pressed on with his good form and scored 128 off 123 balls, as he and Cameron White (61 off 57 balls) were the only batsmen to get going. Reon King (2/44) and Ian Bradshaw (1/37) set the top order back at 25/3, then Dominic Thornely (17) and Hussey recovered with a stand of 53.

Bravo broke the partnership, as Thornely was caught by Marshall, and later he bowled Mike Hussey for 16. This brought White to the crease and he hit a four and 2 sixes in his contribution to a 152-run sixth wicket stand, taking the score from 102/5 to 254/6 at his dismissal.

Quick wickets fell at the end and Australia A finished 263/8. Bravo took 4/42 in his 10 overs.

The West Indians began chasing slowly, until Chris Gayle lay into Shaun Tait to take a couple of sixes in an over that cost 19 runs in total. Gayle then hit another six in the following over by Lee. Hinds (9) was out top-edging a cut shot off the first offering from Damien Wright, bringing Marshall to the crease. Gayle hit another boundary, then was caught sharply by White at wide first slip for 40 off 32 balls.

Marshall (11) and Sarwan (18) made minor contributions, but at 106/4 when the latter departed, it was clear that Lara would have a major job to do. He and Chanderpaul consolidated to the end of the of the 31st over and the required run rate escalated to 7.05.

Chanderpaul then got into the act of acceleration in White's next over, hitting 2 fours of 11 total runs. Things slowed again and 27 runs came off the next 6 overs. Now the required rate read 8.00. A Lara six off Hauritz and a single through midoff brought up a keen half-century from 56 balls. He retained the strike for the following over and launched White for six more over long off. A lofted boundary and a edged cut to the ropes followed in the same over, which cost 16.

Against Hauritz once, more the West Indies captain took a four through the offside and displayed more footwork for a six over longon. Chanderpaul (42) was caught at midwicket off Tait in the following over - 210/5.

It was no deterrence for Lara though. Even as Marlon Samuels (5) was yorked by Brett Lee, Lara kept the runs flowing. He smashed Lee over midwicket for his fourth six and then scored a boundary behind point. The winning runs, however, were taken by wicketkeeper Courtney Browne (9 not out), who drove Thornely through the offside then through the onside for consecutive boundaries.

Score Summary:

Australia 'A' 263/8 (50 overs)
DJ Hussey 128 (123), CL White 61 (57)
DJJ Bravo 4/42 (10), RD King 2/44 (10)

West Indians 264/6 (48.4 overs)
BC Lara 116 not out (86), S Chanderpaul 42 (59), CH Gayle 40 (32)
DG Wright 2/40 (10)

Result: West Indians won by 4 wickets

Posted by Liam