Australia wins the final ODI and squares Series

Yesterday I had posted on whether WI would regain their past glory and waited in fond hope that it would happen.  It was not to be.

After all that hype, it was not to be though a 2-2 draw is a fitting result – a result still WI can feel happy about.    Batting first Australians were powered to 281 for 9 with half-tons from Warner, Watson and Forrest – Windies could make only 251 in reply losing by 30 runs.  

The present Captain, the first Saint Lucian to play for the WI team could feel proud on his performance, not only of the Man of the Match he picked up, but the impressive fight that they managed to put up.  Darren Julius Garvey Sammy made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2004,  and had to wait 3 years before he made his Test Debut against England.  It was a remarkable debut at Old Trafford – his first victim was Alastair Cook.  In the second essay, in his 17^th over, he had Ian Bell, Matt Prior and Liam Plunkett, finishing with 7 for 66, the best by any West Indian on debut since Alf Valentine took 8/102 in 1950.  He was appointed as Captain in Oct 2010, though more because of the tussle the senior players had with Board.

Yesterday, chasing a tall score,  Darren Sammy did his best to carry the hosts home on his shoulders with a powerful 84 that gave his team unexpected hope, though it was not good in the end.  So the Series was rhythmic – Aussie Win, WI Win, Tie; WI win and Aussie Win.  Good cricket ! – with  the No.8-ranked ODI side  missing a rare opportunity to secure a series win over Australia.  The match was almost over when Sammy and Russel came together at 118 for 7 but they made valiant attempt.  When Sammy was out it was  31 still needed from 17 balls.

There was another player from the home land - Johnson Charles who was out  for a fifth-ball duck ; soon WI slumped to 5/2 with Marlon Samuels getting out.    Pollard also failed  and with him perhaps the WI hopes vanished.  

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.