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Saturday, 31 March 2012

Windies Square T20 Series


West Indies made sure the two-match Twenty20 series against Australia finished even thanks to a 14-run victory in Bridgetown.

The hosts managed to defend a total of 160 all out despite having seemed set at one stage to get to 200 and beyond after a fantastic start.

Dwayne Smith led an early onslaught with 63 from 34 deliveries but once he went to leave the score at 110-3 in the 10th over, West Indies slumped to such an extent that they were bowled out with two balls to spare.

Johnson Charles (37) helped put on 72 off 40 balls with Smith but Dwayne Bravo (23) was the only other home batsman to make it into double figures.

However Australia proved unable to repeat their successful run chase from the opening game, slipping from 133-4 to 146-9 by the end of their 20 overs.

Brett Lee dismissed the dangerous Kieron Pollard for a single and then claimed two late scalps to finish with impressive figures of 3-23.
Typically flamboyant

David Warner was typically flamboyant in making 58 from 43 balls at the top of the order at the start of Australia's reply, despite seeing opening partner Shane Watson fall in the first over.

The left-hander enjoyed useful partnerships with captain George Bailey (24) and Mike Hussey (14) but when he was run out by Dwayne Bravo, Australia never managed to regain the momentum he had provided.

Matthew Wade made 17 before giving Marlon Samuels a return catch, though the wicketkeeper-batsman was clearly disappointed that the full toss wasn't called a no ball for being above waist height.

With 25 needed at the start of the penultimate over, Australia lost two wickets in the first two balls, Daniel Christian getting caught at cover before Lee was emphatically bowled by the impressive Fidel Edwards (3-23).

When David Hussey was caught by a diving Pollard in the deep at the start of the final over, Australia's last hope of victory had perished.

The two teams, who have now tied both the one-day and Twenty20 series, now switch to Test cricket, with the first match starting on Saturday, April 5.