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| September 19, 2006 | Tuesday | Sha'aban 25, 1427 |
Blazing Lara, Gayle propel West Indies to victory
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18: Brian Lara and Chris Gayle put Australia to the sword on Monday with a controlled display of batting that handed the West Indies a three-wicket victory in their one-day DLF Cup match.
Their heroics cancelled out a gutsy maiden one-day century by Australia's stand-in captain Michael Hussey whose unbeaten 109 gave his side a defendable 272-6.
But it was a nail-biting climax as the West Indies lost four wickets for 13 runs late in the innings before clawing their way home.
Lara (87) and Gayle (79) put together a 151-run partnership built on some sloppy Australian bowling, particularly by Stuart Clark who was hit for 87 from seven overs, as they reached their target in 47.2 overs.
Australia sorely missed Mitchell Johnson, the explosive young fast bowler who demolished India on Saturday but who was one of three Australians sent home because their squad was considered too big.
Glenn McGrath was also mysteriously rested after just two games on his comeback trail.
It left Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken to spearhead the attack, with Clark, Shane Watson and Dan Cullen in support.
The West Indies didn't get the start they wanted with Shivnarine Chanderpaul falling for a duck to Lee. Ramnaresh Sarwan whacked a rapid 25 before he was caught behind by wicket-keeper Brad Haddin off Bracken.
It brought Lara into the action and he was happy to be a bystander as Gayle unleashed his fury against a hapless Clark in the 15th over, savaging him for 20 runs.
The introduction of Watson and Andrew Symonds stemmed the flow but didn't prevent Gayle bringing up his 27th one-day 50, and his second in the tournament, with a front-foot drive.
And the re-introduction of Clark saw the runs come again – he bowled one 11-ball over that cost 23 runs.
Gayle finally went pulling a short one through midwicket off Watson where it was safely gathered by Hussey, ending an attractive innings that included three sixes and seven fours.
Lara reached his 60th limited-overs 50 with a scampered single off Cullen but fell 13 short of his first century in 18 months when he miscued an attempted pull shot off Lee and found Hussey's safe hands.
The fall of Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Smith in quick succession caused some nerves to fray before Dwayne Bravo and Carlton Baugh ensured the West Indies a second victory from three games here.
Lee finished with 3-26.
Earlier, Hussey smashed a ton, coming to the crease with Australia struggling on 64-4 off 18 overs to pilot his side to a respectable score.
He was aided by Haddin, who contributed a quick-fire 70 – also a career-best – as they let rip in a partnership worth 166, which was Australia's highest ever sixth wicket stand.
Ian Bradshaw was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2-35 off his 10 overs.
The other bright spark for Australia was Matthew Hayden, who scored 49 after a year away from the One-day International game.
Australia have been fiddling with their team selection ahead of the Champions Trophy and Ricky Ponting decided to rest. Hussey won the toss and elected to bat.
Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA:
M.L. Hayden c Taylor b Bravo 49
S.M. Katich run out 22
S.R. Watson c Lara b Taylor 0
A. Symonds c Smith b Bradshaw 8
M.J. Clarke c Gayle b Bradshaw 1
M.E.K. Hussey not out 109
B.J. Haddin c Taylor b Bravo 70
B. Lee not out 1
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-5, W-6) 12
TOTAL (for six wkts, 50 overs) 272
FALL OF WKTS: 1-41, 2-42, 3-57, 4-64, 5-104, 6-270.
DID NOT BAT: N.W. Bracken, D.J. Cullen, S.R. Clark.
BOWLING: Taylor 10-0-53-1 (2w); Bradshaw 10-0-35-2 (1w); Gayle 7-0-46-0 (1w); Smith 7-0-38-0; Samuels 7-0-42-0; Bravo 9-1-52-2 (2w).
WEST INDIES:
S. Chanderpaul c Haddin b Lee 0
C.H. Gayle c Hussey b Watson 79
R.R. Sarwan c Haddin b Bracken 25
B.C. Lara c Hussey b Lee 87
D.J.J. Bravo not out 37
W.W. Hinds c Haddin b Lee 1
M.N. Samuels run out 0
D.R. Smith b Symonds 4
C.S. Baugh not out 7
EXTRAS (LB-6, W-27) 33
TOTAL (for seven wkts, 47.2 overs) 273
FALL OF WKTS: 1-12, 2-44, 3-195, 4-242, 5-249, 6-249, 7-255.
DID NOT BAT: I.D.R. Bradshaw, J.E. Taylor.
BOWLING: Lee 10-0-46-3 (3nb); Bracken 9-0-31-1 (4w); Clark 7-0-87-0 (7nb, 3w); Watson 10-0-43-1 (4w); Symonds 5.2-0-27-1; Cullen 6-1-34-0 (1nb, 3w).
RESULT: West Indies won by three wickets
UMPIRES: Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and A.L. Hill (New Zealand).
TV UMPIRE: M.R. Benson (England).
MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Michael Hussey.
NEXT MATCH: India v West Indies on Wednesday.—AFP
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