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West Indies with
a great chance of causing an upset |
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West
Indies have set themselves a perfect platform to
cause a huge upset on the final day of the first
Test at Sabina Park. The underdogs had been
given a chasable target of 287 out of which 46
runs have been knocked off at stumps on the
fourth day. Windies have nine wickets standing
tall and in particular that of Captain Ramnaresh
Sarwan, who will be looking to make amends for
his first innings' failure.
Australia
were in trouble when they had resumed their
second innings on the fourth day, at a
vulnerable 17 for 4. In the fifth ball of the
day's play itself, West Indies struck gold by
removing night watchman Mitchell Johnson through
Daren Powell. Australia got reduced to 18 for 5
with a lead of just 137! Symonds had to play a
heroic innings if his side had to bail out of
trouble and he didn't let them down at all.
First he combined with Brad Hodge and then later
on with wicket keeper Brad Haddin to add some
important runs on the board.
For West Indies, the lucky mascot was Dwayne
Bravo, who was able to give the breaks just when
Symonds was turning it on with the two Brads.
First Bravo got rid of Hodge (27) in the 28th
over to reduce Australia to 70 for 6 and then
after lunch sent back Brad Haddin (23).
Australia were now at 144 for 7 and soon were
162 for 8 with all rounder Brett Lee not able to
stick for a long time. After Lee's wicket, the
West Indies wrapped up things in no time as
Australia collapsed to 167 all out in 56.5 overs.
Australia's hopes of stretching the target a
little further when Symonds had miscued a pull
shot off Bravo. Symonds played a superb knock
getting 79 from 118 balls with 9 fours and 3
sixes before the bowlers could do the total
damage. The last three wickets fell for the
addition of just 5 runs in the space of as many
deliveries! The spoils were shared by Daren
Powell (15-5-36-3), Fidel Edwards (16-3-40-3)
and of course Dwayne Bravo (18.5-3-47-4).
West Indies begin their run chase cautiously
in the form of Devon Smith and Brenton
Parchment. The Australian bowlers sprayed the
ball around but at the same time weren't getting
hit around. The much needed breakthrough came
when the right handed Parchment (15) was
indecisive about playing or leaving a Stuart
Clark delivery. Although Parchment didn't make
much of an impact, the start of seeing the new
ball off for 7.3 overs would be quite handy for
the middle order. The next 30 minutes or so was
well negotiated by Devon Smith (19 from 55 balls
with 1 four) and Skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan (8
from 23 balls) before bad light brought an early
end to proceedings. West Indies need their
batsmen to show some application on the final
day if they have to record what would be a
tremendous victory. For Ponting and co., they
would be feeling the heat of not having too many
runs to defend, but they do have a good bowling
unit that can do the job.
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