Windies in big trouble again

West Indies cricketers need 300 runs today to win the second Cable and Wireless cricket Test at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-Spain.

Scores: AUSTRALIA 576/4 dec & 238/3 dec vs WEST INDIES 408 and 107/3.

Australia declared their second innings at 238 for three wickets to leave the Caribbean cricketers with a minimum of 127 overs to get 407 runs to win. When the homesters began their reply yesterday they were left with 37 overs to complete the day’s play and progressed to 107 for three at the close.  Skipper Brian Lara, with an unbeaten 52, and his deputy Ramnaresh Sarwan, yet to score, walked off wondering if they would be at the Oval around the same time today. The awesome Australians had the West Indies reeling at 12 for two wickets early on as opener Devon Smith competed the dreaded “pair” and first innings centurion Daren Ganga fell for only two.  Both were victims of the impressive Jason Gillespie.

Skipper Lara entered the fray played an valuable part in a 95-run stand for the third wicket with Wavell Hinds which frustrated the Australian charge to secure the four-Test series 2-0. The double world record-holder  was very watchful but never once failed to pounce on anything wayward offered to him. He was lucky to get a reprieve at 24 when Brett Lee dropped a difficult caught and bowled chance. But the left-hander rallied well after this let-off and reached his half century off 75 balls in 117 minutes with seven fours. Hinds, fighting to keep his pick for the Third Test, doggedly defended everything that was thrown at him and was unlucky to get out, bowled by MacGill for 35.

He prodded forward but the ball trickled back unto the stumps. Hinds occupied the crease for 157 minutes, faced15 balls with hit  seven fours. Lara was unbeaten on 52 at the close and will be the main man if the West Indies are to score an improbable 300 runs today and register an historic victory. Earlier Australia resumed on their overnight score of 31 for one wicket and proceeded to belt the Caribbean bowling attack ,which for the most part, was unpenetrative. Strike bowler Mervyn Dillon was unlucky but still grabbed two wickets. The gifted Matthew Hayden scored an unbeaten 100, his 12th Test century in his 40th Test. It  came in 274 minutes off 180 balls with ten fours. He added 106 with the inform Ricky Ponting who got 47 and then 120 in 118 minutes with the aggressive Darren Lehmann. The 33-year-old Lehmann scored 66 off 92 balls with the help off eight fours and two sixes.

Skipper Steve Waugh then declared at 238 for three —- setting the West Indies 407 runs for victory. Waugh did not bat in the Test match. It was the second time he did not bat in his 158th Test match. The first time was against Pakistan at Sydney in 1990. West Indies will be concerned today about the state of the wicket which is keeping a bit low and giving some help to the Australian spinners.