Windies set 418-run victory target

ST JOHN’S: Matthew Hayden scored 177 and fellow opener Justin Langer 111 yesterday as Australia set West Indies 418 runs to win the fourth and final Test match.

The home team made a solid start, surviving 22.1 overs to reach 47 without loss before bad light forced play to be stopped. Devon Smith made 21 while Chris Gayle was 19. Earlier, Hayden and Langer put Australia in a commanding position with a first-wicket partnership of 242 before the West Indies, led by Mervyn Dillon who took four wickets, bowled the tourists out for 417. Both teams scored 240 in their first innings. Despite their fightback, West Indies will have to score their highest ever fourth innings total against Australia, who lead the series 3-0, to stop the visitors becoming the first side to achieve a clean-sweep in the Caribbean.

The highest fourth innings score West Indies have achieved against the tourists is 352 in Sydney in 1969. West Indies did score 311-9 to win the Third Test in Bridgetown in 1999. Earlier, Hayden survived two chances before he reached his 14th Test century. He was dropped by captain Brian Lara at first slip off Omari Banks on Saturday when he was on 47 and had another let off on 88 when Devon Smith’s attempted run out just missed the stumps. Langer brought up his 15th century shortly after Hayden, but when he reached 111 he edged Chris Gayle to Lara at first slip. Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist was sent in at number three but made only six before he was caught by Marlon Samuels off Banks after the ball ricocheted off Ridley Jacobs’ shoulder.

West Indies made another breakthrough when Banks and Samuels again combined to remove Martin Love for two on the last ball of the morning session. Hayden continued his onslaught after lunch, hitting a huge six off Banks on to the roof of the Richie Richardson Stand before he smashed the next delivery down the ground for four. Mervyn Dillon then bowled Darren Lehmann, who got an inside edge on to his stumps for 14, before Hayden was run out after Australia captain Steve Waugh played a shot to backward point, and Carlton Baugh made a direct hit after Hayden had been sent back by Waugh.

Dillon, who was dropped for the Third Test, grabbed another two wickets in the afternoon session when he had Bichel caught by Smith for a duck and Brett Lee caught by substitute fielder Sylvester Joseph for 18. After the break, he had Stuart MacGill caught by Lara for a duck, while Vasbert Drakes took the wickets of Jason Gillespie (five) and Glenn McGrath (14), who combined with Waugh in a 29-run 10th wicket partnership. Waugh made 45 not out before running out of partners. West Indies fast bowler Jermaine Lawson, who took seven for 78 in the first innings, bowled only six overs in the second innings because of a back injury.