Day 5 : WI v Aus

The West Indies today completed a thrilling record breaking victory over the touring Australians at the ARG. The batsmen, despite the early drama, managed to hold their nerve and, ultimately they fairly cantered home to a three-wicket win.

When Chanderpaul (104) was dismissed in just the fourth over of play to a drive off Lee, Australia seemed primed to complete the first whitewash of the West Indies at home. Alas, it was not to be. Young Omari Banks kept his cool and batted with tremendous composure as he supported Vasbert Drakes to the winning boundary.

Drakes looked to attack from the start, when he clipped a misdirected yorker from Lee for four. He would continue to time the ball well as epitimized in his massive six off MacGill to midwicket. Captain Waugh had turned to the leg-spinner rather surprisingly early in play - the ploy failed.

When Drakes went onto the back foot and cut MacGill to the point boundary to take the score to 418, time seemed to slow to a near standstill as the crowd sought to comprehend the magnitude of this run chase. Then, the noise! 'Rally 'Round the West Indies' boomed from all parts of the ground and the West Indian dressing boomed with congratulations.

Although the series lost, the home side had managed to do the near impossible. The victory broke a string of 9 consecutive Test match victories for the Aussies over the West Indies. Banks (47*) and Drakes (27*) shared an unbroken 46-run partnership and Lee finished with 4/63.

Chanderpaul claimed the coveted Man of the Match award for his brave century...injured finger and all. Not surprisingly, Aussie vice-captain Ricky Ponting was awarded Man of the Series. The Austalians had retained the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy by a clear 3-1 margin, but the West Indies seemed to have the last laugh.

Score Summary:

Australia 1st Innings (72.1 Overs) - 240 all out
(J.Langer 42, S.Waugh 41; J.Lawson 7/78, M.Dillon 2/53)

West Indies 1st Innings (65.3 Overs) - 240 all out
(B.Lara 68, D.Smith 37; A.Bichel 3/53, B.Lee 3/71)

Australia 2nd Innings (104 Overs) - 417 all out
(M.Hayden 177, J.Langer 111; M.Dillon 4/112, C.Gayle 2/92)

West Indies 2nd Innings (128.5 Overs)- 418/7
(R.Sarwan 105, S.Chanderpaul 104; B.Lee 4/63, G.McGrath 1/50)

The 7-match ODI series will commence on Saturday the 17th of May.

Posted by Liam