West Indies go down fighting; Aussies clinch series 2-0
Australia clinched the series 2-0 when they beat West Indies by 35 runs in the third and final Test on the fifth day in Perth on December 20.
Requiring 359 for victory, the visitors ran Australia close but were finally all out for 323 after extending the match to its final day. Narsingh Deonarine and Brendan Nash gave West Indies hopes of victory with a fine stand of 128 for the fourth wicket. While Deonarine scored a career-best 82, Nash maintained his fine form with 65. Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo played irresponsible shots to get out spoiling the visitors’ chances. The tail-enders put up a brave fight with Sulieman Benn (33), Gavin Tonge (23 not out) and Kemar Roach (17) but that was not enough. Mitchell Johnson and Dougie Bollinger took three wickets each.
After taking a lead of 208 in the first innings, Australia were dramatically bundled out for 150 in their second outing. Bravo and Benn were the main destroyers taking four and three wickets respectively. Shane Watson was the highest scorer with 30.
In West Indies’ first innings score of 312, skipper Chris Gayle made a hurricane century off just 70 deliveries but soon got out for 102. This was his 12th Test ton, and the fifth fastest in the world. Travis Dowlin (55), Nash (44) and Sarwan (42) made useful contributions. Bollinger had his first five-wicket haul in Tests and he was well supported by Nathan Hauritz who claimed three wickets.
Australia had declared their first innings on 520 for 7 with most batsmen contributing handsomely but none reaching the three-figure mark. Simon Katich (99), Watson (89), Mike Hussey (82), and Marcus North (68) helped the home team pile up this big total. But the most attractive innings was played by Brad Haddin who scored a blistering 88 off 91 deliveries. Roach and Deonarine took two wickets each.
Gayle was named both Man of the Match and Man of the Series.
Brief scores: Australia 520 for 7 decld. (Katich 99, Watson 89, Haddin 88, Hussey 82, North 68; Deonarine 2/74, Roach 2/104) and 150 (Bravo 4/43, Benn 3/29); West Indies 312 (Gayle 102, Dowlin 55, Nash 44, Sarwan 42; Bollinger 5/70, Hauritz 3/66) and 323 (Deonarine 82, Nash 65; Johnson 3/67, Bollinger 3/71). Australia won by 35 runs.
