The Windies Collapse in 1st ODI

The West Indies will consider this ‘the one that got away’. After being at one stage 172-1, the WIndies collapsed to be all out for 201, and crashed to a 78 run loss.

The stats at the end were damming for the West Indies, losing their last nine wickets for just 65 runs.

Earlier Australia had won the toss and elected to bat, in front of a very small crowd.

The pitch provided good bounce to the WIndies quick bowlers, with the ball occasionally keeping low, but unfortunately the West Indian bowlers as a whole were also a little erratic. In the end they were to concede 17 wides.

The first wicket to fall was that of Phil Jaques (2) bowled by a magnificent delivery from Fidel Edwards that cut back from outside off.

This brought the Australian captain Ricky Ponting to the crease, and instantly the run rate started to increase with Ponting striking nine fours in his 56 (54 balls). He was ably supported by Simon Katich (36), in a 97 run partnership for the second wicket.

Ian Bradshaw claimed both, and the Aussies were 122-3 in the 24th over. This brought young tyros Michael Clarke and Mark Cosgrove together and they both played some powerful strokes, putting on 69 for the fourth wicket.

Cosgrove (34) seemed to become over confident and tried to stand and deliver off the bowling of Dwayne Smith, but only found the safe hands of Brian Lara.

The West Indies bowlers suddenly looked a different proposition, bowling much straighter with four of the last five wickets being bowled. Three to Jerome Taylor, and the prized wicket of Clarke being bowled by Dwayne Bravo ending a little gem of an innings. Clarke scored 81 from only 79 balls.

The Aussie total of 279-9 looked adequate, but in the end they would have been a little disappointed as 300 looked reachable after 30 overs.

The West Indies openers Chris Gayle and more noticeably Shivnarine Chanderpaul looked out of touch, playing and missing at both Nathan Bracken and Glen McGrath who in his first over started with four wides.

Chanderpaul had struggled to just three runs off 22 deliveries, when suddenly he exploded. Targeting Bracken in particular he smashed four sixes and 10 boundaries in a whirlwind 92 from just 83 balls.

Not to be out done ‘Mr Cool’ Chris Gayle also after a slow start, raced to 58 from only 46 balls faced, which included two sixes.

Unfortunately for the West Indies only Ramnaresh Sarwan managed double figures from the rest of the batting line up, and what looked like a tremendous victory turned into a humiliating defeat.

On a positive note the umpires for this match Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and Tony Hill (New Zealand) had an error free game, and certainly looked at home on the international stage.

Their fine performance did not stop the Australian captain from verbally abusing Asad Rauf however.

Australian 279-9
Michael Clarke 81, Ricky Ponting 54
Jerome Taylor 3-81, Ian Bradshaw 2-34

Australia won by 75 runs

West Indies 201
Shrivnarine Chanderpaul 92, Chris Gayle 58
Shane Watson 4-43, Nathan Bracken 2-45

Cricket Web Man of The Match
Srivnarine Chanderpaul