Hinds helps West Indies topple Australia for second successive match
ST GEORGE’S (Grenada), May 31: Opener Wavell Hinds scored a career-best 125 not out to guide West Indies to a three-wicket win over world champions Australia in the sixth One-day International match on Friday (partly reported in Saturday’s edition).
West Indies, chasing Australia’s 252 all out, won in 48.4 overs to reduce their deficit in the seven-match series to 4-2 with one game to play.
“Wavell played a fantastic innings but we never really nailed any partnerships,” said Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
Hinds put on a 114-run third-wicket stand with Ramnaresh Sarwan (50) after Brian Lara had fallen cheaply only for Australia’s quicks to hit back and put the home side under pressure again.
Brett Lee returned to the attack in the 40th over, Sarwan driving his first delivery to the covers where Andrew Symonds took a low diving catch to make it 181 for three.
Two balls later, Lee clean-bowled Marlon Samuels for a duck and Ricardo Powell then scored a single before getting his legs in a tangle and chipping back a return catch to Darren Lehmann.
It was 213 for six when Ridley Jacobs fell to Andy Bichel but Hinds, who hit six sixes and five fours in only his second One-day International century in 74 matches, coolly steered the home team to victory.
It was Australia’s second defeat in a row.
Lee was the pick of their bowlers although he lost his accuracy at the death, his three wickets costing 50 runs.
Australia, who won the toss, were left rueing their missed chances after Adam Gilchrist, with a run-a-ball 64, and Matthew Hayden had hammered 90 in the first 15 overs.
It was the first time in the series that Australia had been bowled out.
Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA:
A.C. Gilchrist c Lara b Samuels 64
M.L. Hayden c Hinds b Collymore 29
R.T. Ponting run out 2
A. Symonds c Lara b Sarwan 16
D.S. Lehmann c and b Gayle 43
J.P. Maher c and b Gayle 19
G.B. Hogg c Gayle b Samuels 0
A.J. Bichel c Lara b Gayle 41
B. Lee c Powell b Collymore 14
N.M. Hauritz run out 2
J.N. Gillespie not out 1
EXTRAS (LB-8, W-10, NB-3) 21
TOTAL (all out, 50 overs) 252
FALL OF WKTS: 1-90, 2-105, 3-105, 4-149, 5-177, 6-178, 7-193, 8-243, 9-250.