Aussies make it 3-in-a-row

BEAUSEJOUR: World cricket champions Australia captured their 20th consecutive victory in limited-overs internationals yesterday with a comfortable 25-run defeat of the West Indies. Australia now lead the seven-match series 3-0. Andrew Symonds (75) and “Man-of-the-Match” Michael Clarke (75 not out) set up the visitors’ winning total of 258 for four off 50 overs. The 27-year-old Symonds blasted nine boundaries in 75 off 82 deliveries. The 22-year-old Clarke, in only his second one-dayer, hit an unbeaten 75 off 100 balls with five fours.  

The pair added 99 for the fourth wicket after the visitors stumbled to 79 for three in the 17th over after being sent in by the West Indies. The home team threatened briefly during their chase, but Nathan Hauritz (two for 50) and Jason Gillespie (two for 48) struck double blows at crucial times. Australia also effected three run outs as the West Indies fell short at 233 for nine. Glenn McGrath claimed Devon Smith (9) at 20 for one to put Australia on top early in the West Indies’ reply. But Chris Gayle (43) swept Ramnaresh Sarwan (15) along in his wake as the pair electrified the packed stadium with a stroke-filled stand of 47 for the second wicket.

Hauritz, an off-spinner in his first match of the series, halted the assault with two wickets in his first two overs. Sarwan lofted Hauritz’s second ball low to mid-off, while Gayle sliced a catch to cover point off the first ball he faced from the 21-year-old from Queensland. The 23-year-old Gayle smashed five fours and a six off 46 deliveries. When Andy Bichel claimed captain Brian Lara (4) for the sixth time on this Caribbean tour, the Australians were well in charge at 85 for four. Lara chopped onto his stumps, prompting an elated Bichel to follow through with a spontaneous cartwheel. Jamaicans Marlon Samuels and Wavell Hinds breathed new life into the flagging West Indies effort with a studious partnership of 65 for the fifth wicket.

The recalled Hinds reached 42 off 60 balls with two fours when a mix-up with Samuels left him run out by the length of the pitch. Ricardo Powell further fired up the victory pursuit with a typically power-packed innings that again had the capacity crowd of 14,000 jumping and waving. The 24-year-old smacked two fours and a six in 26 off 11 balls but fell to Gillespie on his return. Powell lashed a cracking drive straight to Clarke on the deep cover boundary. On the next ball, Samuels (37) perished in similar fashion, lifting Gillespie’s slower ball to Clarke at 181 for seven.

Wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh scored an unbeaten 24 toward the end, but two direct-hit run outs emphasised the Australian dominance. Omari Banks was undone by Brad Hogg’s smart work from backward point, while Mervyn Dillon fell to Andrew Symonds’ brilliance at midwicket. Earlier, fast bowler Dillon had helped give the West Indies an encouraging start after he extinguished the threat of Matthew Hayden (20 off 14 balls). When off-spinner Banks removed Jimmy Maher (17) and captain Ricky Ponting (32) was run out, the Australians were uncertain at 79 for three.

But Symonds and Clarke gradually revived the Australian innings with some assured stroke-play and quick running between the wickets. The powerful Symonds was the more aggressive, passing his 50 off 55 deliveries as Clarke lent solid support. Symonds fell trying to raise the tempo, bowled by Gayle’s flatter delivery of full length. Clarke and left-hander Michael Bevan closed the innings with a further stand of 80 off the last 15 overs. Bevan hit two fours in 32 not out off 39 deliveries. Dillon was the best of the West Indies bowlers, with one for 36 off 10 overs.