Windies fight back to square series

Cricket365
March 31, 2012

A glowing outing in the field helped the West Indies defend a modest 160 all out and claim a 14-run victory over Australia to square the Twenty20 International series 1-1 on Friday.

A glowing outing in the field helped the West Indies defend a modest 160 all out and claim a 14-run victory over Australia to square the two-match Twenty20 International series 1-1 on Friday.

After winning the toss and batting, the hosts got off to a racing start and looked on course for a score near 200 as openers Johnson Charles and Dwayne Smith made merry with a 72-run partnership at the Kensington Oval.

Smith was brutal up front as he smashed four sixes and six boundaries in a swashbuckling innings of 63 off 34 balls. Johnson provided adequate support with 37 off 21 as the pair were intent on trying to send every ball over the ropes.

Shane Watson made the first breakthrough when Charles holed out to Daniel Christian at long-on and big-hitting Kieron Pollard – promoted up the order – couldn't eclipse his first T20 heroics as he nicked Brett Lee to Matthew Wade.

Still at 110 for two it looked like West Indies were set to reach a total in the region of 220, but the Australian bowlers rallied together and wickets at regular intervals. West Indies vice-captain Dwayne Bravo (23) was the only other batsmen to reach double figures as the hosts were bundled out two balls shy of the allotted 20 overs.

In reply, Australia got off to a disastrous start as Watson edged Fidel Edwards to Darren Sammy without scoring, but George Bailey (24) and David Warner (58) combined for an alliance of 63 runs for the second wicket.

Warner blasted a superb 58 off 43 balls and kept his side in the hunt despite seeing wickets crumble around him. The spin of Marlon Samuels (three for 23) then choked the Australian middle order as boundaries dried up once the ball became softer.

A late rally from Edwards (three for 23) then got West Indies into a position where they only needed to defend 19 off the final over. With David Hussey and Clint McKay on strike, the pair were unable to find the necessary runs and ultimately fell 14 runs as both lost their wickets in successive balls.