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.

BOWLING: Collymore 10-1-46-2 (2nb, 2w); Dillon 8-0-52-0; Samuels 10-1-39-2 (2w); Drakes 6-0-21-0 (1nb); Bernard 2-0-17-0; Sarwan 4-0-32-1 (1w); Gayle 10-1-37-3 (1w).

WEST INDIES:

C.H. Gayle c Gilchrist b Lee 18

W.W. Hinds not out 125

B.C. Lara c and b Symonds 15

R.R. Sarwan c Symonds b Lee 50

M.N. Samuels b Lee 0

R.L. Powell c and b Lehmann 1

R.D. Jacobs c Maher b Bichel 8

D.E. Bernard lbw Gillespie 7

V.C. Drakes not out 0

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-15, W-8, NB-3) 30

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 48.4 overs) 254

FALL OF WKTS: 1-23, 2-67, 3-181, 4-181, 5-193, 6-214, 7-244.

DID NOT BAT: M. Dillon, C.D. Collymore.

BOWLING: Lee 9.4-2-50-3 (2nb, 2w); Gillespie 9-2-33-1; Bichel 10-0-52-1 (1w); Symonds 4-0-19-1 (2w); Hogg 10-1-35-0; Hauritz 5-0-35-0; Lehmann 1-0-11-1 (1w).

RESULT: West Indies won by three wickets. Australia lead seven-match series 4-2.

UMPIRES: E.A. Nicholls (West Indies) and R.E. Koertzen (South Africa).

TV UMPIRE: B.E.W. Morgan (West Indies).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Wavell Hinds.

FIRST MATCH: Kingston, Australia won by two runs.

SECOND MATCH: Kingston, Australia won by eight wickets.

THIRD MATCH: Castries, Australia won by 25 runs.

FOURTH MATCH: Port-of-Spain, Australia won by 67 runs.

FIFTH MATCH: Port-of-Spain, West Indies won by 39 runs.

SEVENTH MATCH: St George’s, Sunday.—Reuters

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