09 January 2005	Sunday	27 Ziqa'ad 1425

MELBOURNE, Jan 8: West Indies captain Brian Lara stroked an unbeaten 116 to lead his side to a four-wicket win over Australia A in their limited-overs warm-up match in Hobart on Saturday.

The stylish left hander, who faced just 86 balls, added 104 for the fifth wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (42) as West Indies reached 266 for eight from 48.4 overs in replay to Australia A's 263 for eight from 50.

West Indies paceman Dwayne Bravo took four for 42 while David Hussey scored 128 for Australia A.

Opener Chris Gayle scored a brisk 40 for the tourists but Wavell Hinds (9), teenager Xavier Marshall (11) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (18) all fell cheaply.

Marlon Samuels was bowled by Brett Lee for five before wicketkeeper Courtney Browne hit the winning boundary with eight balls to spare.

West Indies play Australia in Melbourne on Jan 14 in the opening match of a triangular one-day tournament also involving Pakistan.

Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds will miss the triangular one-day series against Australia and Pakistan because of a groin strain, West Indies said on Saturday.

The 23-year-old was named 12th man for Saturday's warm-up match against Australia A in Hobart ahead of their opening game of the series against Australia in Melbourne on Jan 14.

"Ryan Hinds sustained a groin-related injury in the first warm-up game against Victoria on January 5 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and will be unable to take any further part in the series," West Indies media officer Imran Khan said.

"A replacement has been requested and will be announced once confirmed. The possibility of having Hinds' injury treated in Australia is being explored. As a result he will remain with the squad for the next few days."

Hinds, from Barbados, has seven test and 14 limited-overs international caps, including the final of the ICC Champions Trophy on Sep 25 when West Indies beat England by two wickets at The Oval in London.

Scoreboard

Australia A

A B.Haddin b Bradshaw 6

M.North c Sarwan b King 9

B.Hodge c Marshall b King 3

D.Hussey b Bravo 128

D.Thornely c Marshall b Bravo 17

M.Hussey b Bravo 16

C.White c Bradshaw b Gayle 61

D.Wright b Bravo 5

B.Lee not out 1

N.Hauritz not out 1

Extras (b-1, lb-5, w-10) 16

Total (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 263

Fall of wkts: 1-14 2-18 3-25 4-78 5-102 6-254 7-259 8-260

Bowling: Bradshaw 10-2-37-1 (w-1), King 10-1-44-2 (w-5), Bravo 10-1-42-4 (w-3), W.Hinds 9-0-43-0, Gayle 7-0-52-1, Samuels 4-0-39-0 (w-1).

West Indies

C.Gayle c White b Wright 40

W.Hinds c Haddin b Wright 9

X.Marshall c Hauritz b Thornely 11

R.Sarwan run out 18

B.Lara not out 116

S.Chanderpaul c M.Hussey b Tait 42

M.Samuels b Lee 5

C.Browne not out 9

Extras (lb-7 nb-3, w-6) 16

Total (six wkts, 48.4 overs) 266

Fall of wkts: 1-46 2-52 3-69 4-106 5-210 6-235

Bowling: Lee 9-1-42-1 (w-3), Tait 10-0-54-1 (w-2), Wright 10-1-40-2 (w-1), Thornely 9.4-0-45-1 (nb-1), White 6-0-41-0, Hauritz 4-0-37-0 (nb-2).-Agencies