Historic victory denies Aussies

ST. JOHN’S: Two West Indian rookies created cricket history yesterday, successfully chasing a mammoth 418 fourth-innings total to beat Australia by three wickets in their fourth and final  Test.

It was the highest fourth innings total to win in 125 years of Test cricket, easily surpassing the 406 for four by India to beat the West Indies in 1976 in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. “It’s hard to put into words what has happened in this Test match but it’s great,” captain Brian Lara said after the match. “It’s great to be playing against Australia, the world champions, and it’s great to see us show the mettle, show the character and come out with a great win today,” said Lara. The West Indies’ victory denied Australia from becoming the first team to sweep a series in the Caribbean. Australia won it 3-1 to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy, symbol of supremacy between the teams since 1965.

The West Indian heroes were Omari Banks (47 not out) and Vasbert Drakes (27 not out), who shared a tension-filled, unbroken stand of 46 for the eighth wicket. The two uprooted the stumps as souvenirs and charged toward ecstatic team mates even as fans invaded the field, screaming, whistling and waving multicoloured flags of the Caribbean islands. Two men cartwheeled across the Antigua Recreation Ground in jubilation. “I’m really proud of the guys,” Lara, who contributed 60 to the run chase on Monday, said of the youngest team ever fielded by the West Indies, average age under 25. Australia had their hopes lifted early when Shivnarine Chanderpaul fell with the addition of one run at 372 for seven. Left-hander Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan hit centuries on Monday to power the victory bid after Lara’s dismissal. Chanderpaul edged a catch to the wicket-keeper off Brett Lee (four for 63). Chanderpaul, named “Man of the Match,” scored 104 off 154 balls with 17 fours and one six in 229 minutes.

With the Aussies fired up, the 33-year-old Drakes and Banks, at 20 the youngest member of the team, showed calm assurance in their association. Australian captain Steve Waugh started with pacers Lee and Gillespie, who kept the West Indies batsmen static for the first half hour. But Drakes, in his sixth Test, gave the lead with some positive stroke play and Banks, in only his second, soon followed. Drakes’ clipped-on drive off Lee was the first boundary of the day, but the runs soon flowed with greater ease. The introduction of leg-spinner Stuart MacGill proved costly as he was pasted for 21 runs from 3.5 overs. Drakes launched him for a massive six onto the roof of the Andy Roberts Stand at midwicket to bring up the 400 and reduce the target to just 16 runs.  Waugh turned to McGrath with 10 needed and his champion was taken for a single off his solitary over. But with nine needed, MacGill was glanced for four to fine leg by Banks, who then took a single to give Drakes the chance to create history. The Barbadian obliged with a rasping square cut to the fence amid joyful scenes from West Indians on and off the field. Drakes lashed three fours and one six in an hour off 47 balls in his career-best score. Banks, who was 28 not out overnight, spent three hours in the middle, hitting five fours off 114 balls.