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Aussies clinch a
dramatic victory as Windies commit hara-kiri
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September 12, 2006 (Link to
Scorecard)
 World
Champions Australia clinched victory from the
jaws of defeat in the opening game of the
Tri-Series DLF Cup at Kuala Lumpur. Chasing a
mighty target of 280 under lights at the Kinrara
Oval, Windies were off to a blistering start
thanks to an amazing display of strokeplay from
Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle. West
Indies committed hara-kiri once these two
batsmen got dismissed allowing Australia to
sneak through the door of opportunity. In the
end, West Indies crashed out to a 78-run defeat
with its last nine wickets falling for just 21
runs! There was an 81 early on from Michael
Clarke and then a 92 from Chanderpaul, but the
Player of the Match went to Shane Watson, the
all rounder making a comeback in the Aussie line
up. He was one bowler who bowled with plenty of
fire and aggression despite being smacked away
all over the park. Eventually Shane Watson had
the last laugh taking four wickets.
It was the first ever One Day International
played on this ground and there was a high
degree of uncertainty about how the wicket would
play for the 100 overs. Ricky Ponting won the
toss and elected to bat first with his side
being packed with full of surprises. There was
no place for the match winners like Andrew
Symonds, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee and others.
West Indies had a predicted line up though with
the exception of Corey Collymore sitting out.
Australia began their innings with the left
handed pair of Phil Jaques and Simon Katich.
Fidel Edwards who was back in the action for
Windies after recovering from his hamstring
injury cleaned up Jaques with a quick inswinger.
The ball was seaming around and bouncing a lot
more and it looked that the batsmen would
struggle. But Ricky Ponting came out and took
the bowlers on and soon West Indies were in
disarray. Lara was making all sorts of changes
and at one stage he had used 6 bowlers within 18
overs! However West Indies were helped by a
meaningless and scratchy innings by Simon Katich
that was neutralizing the Ponting effect.
West Indies were brought back into the scheme of
things as Ponting was beaten by one that came
back and kept low by Bradshaw. Ponting made a
53-ball 54 and soon Katich followed him back to
the pavilion after labouring hard for a 69-ball
36. Australia were reduced to 119 for 3 in the
25th over. Michael Clarke was joined by the
young Mark Cosgrove and the innings was back in
shape with the two playing some dashing shots.
Cosgrove couldn't convert his promising innings
into a big one as he slapped Dwayne Smith
straight to the mid off fielder for 34. Michael
Clarke was opening up his shoulders at this
stage going over the top as Australia approached
the last stages of its innings. Bravo did the
rescue act for Windies by yorking the dangerous
Michael Clarke who ended up at 81 in 79 balls
with 9 hits to the fence. Australia stretched
its total to 279 losing 9 wickets. Bradshaw was
the best for West Indies taking 2 for 37 in his
10. Dwayne Smith was lucky to go for just 39
besides taking two wickets in his 9 overs.
However it was Jerome Taylor who stole the
limelight with his quick inswingers that cleaned
up Haddin, Bracken and Johnson.
 The
pair of Gayle and Chanderpaul was forced to play
in a cautious manner as Glenn McGrath and Nathan
Bracken got the ball to move around in both
directions. Once the two players survived the
tough period of the first few overs, the big
shots came out. Shivnarine Chanderpaul was the
most aggressive of the two batsmen and his shots
were mainly the pick up shots over the infield
using his bottom hand to good effect. Gayle soon
joined him in the boundary act and the Aussie
bowlers were soon running for cover. Apart from
Glenn McGrath who was rested after a four overs
spell, everyone were smashed around without any
mercy. The breakthrough for Australia finally
came in the 18th over with Gayle chopping Watson
to the point fielder. Gayle made a power packed
58 with two sixes. Chanderpaul followed him back
in the pavilion after nearly six overs when he
was done in by the extra bounce by left arm
quick Mitchell Johnson. Chanderpaul had missed
his century by just 8 runs and he had played
just 83 balls. He struck 10 fours and as many as
four sixes.
For West Indies, one of those two openers had to
carry on getting West Indies in the comfort
zone. They never could calm down and consolidate
their situation but they took the other
alternative of smashing to glory. The other
batsmen were dismissed one after the other
playing poor strokes coupled with the energetic
Australian bowling and fielding. Lara had
started the slide by walking across his stumps
and getting plumb in front to Johnson. McGrath
had returned for his second spell and was gifted
with the wicket of Bravo who was very brave to
attempt a flick off the backfoot to an away
going delivery from McGrath around the offstump
region. That brave shot had of course cost his
wicket. West Indies were in for a defeat once
they lost Ramnaresh Sarwan who was hurried onto
playing a pull shot off Shane Watson. West
Indies collapsed to 201 all out in just the 35th
over. Shane Watson had grabbed four wickets for
43 in his 8 while Nathan Bracken and Mitchell
Johnson picked up two wickets each but not
before getting their figures damaged by the
opening onslaught.
It was a terrible show from West Indies; they
showed the world how to lose a match from such a
great position. However nothing can be taken
away from the opening partnership between
Chanderpaul and Gayle which was a display of
stunning fireworks under lights. Australia have
shown everyone the reason why they had won the
last two world cups. The next action is between
the demoralized West Indies team versus another
unpredictable side - India which is on the 14th
at this same venue.
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