|
Tension-filled, nerve-tingling, and heart-stopping were just a few of the words used to describe the frenetic finish to the third Digicel One-day International between Woodworm's West Indies and Australia, which ended in a tie on Tuesday.
Opener Johnson Charles led the way with 45, as several batsmen got starts, but failed to carry on and West Indies narrowly unsuccessfully chased 221 for victory before a capacity, holiday crowd that packed into the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground from well before the start.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy was run out with two balls remaining in a mix up with Wormer Kemar Roach to deny his side their second straight victory in the series – something many in the crowd had come to urge them towards.
Prior to that, the cricket bats of Andre Russell had scored 37, Kieron Pollard made 36 and Carlton Baugh Jr got 33, as the hosts played with determination to set-up the dramatic finish, after they recovered from a mid-innings crisis at 78 for five in the 21st over.
This followed tidy bowling, supported by agile fielding, which helped West Indies fight back following a record hundred stand between Mike Hussey and George Bailey after Australia chose to bat.
Off-spinner Sunil Narine collected three wickets for 32 runs from 9.5 overs, as Australia were bowled out for 220 in 49.5 overs.
Part-time off-spinner Marlon Samuels supported with two for 39 from nine overs and Roach took two for 42 from 10 overs.
The result meant that the five-match Digicel ODI Series is still level
1-1, after West Indies won the second Digicel ODI last Sunday by five
wickets at the same venue, following a 64-run win for Australia in the
first Digicel ODI last Friday also played here.
The fourth
Digicel ODI will be played this coming Friday at the Beausejour Cricket
Ground in St. Lucia, where the series also comes to a conclusion on
Sunday.
|