Australia wins the 5th ODI vs. West Indies besides Darren Sammy’s Blast

Australia 281-9 (David Warner 69, Shane Watson 66, Andre Russell 4-61) beat West Indies 251 all out (Darren Sammy 84, Adrian Barath 42, Brett Lee 3-42) by 30 runs.

Darren Sammy - explosive 84 off just 50 deliveries
Darren Sammy – explosive 84 off just 50 deliveries

Australia grabbed the fifth ODI against West Indies and managed to level the series 2-2 besides a heroic knock of 84 by the Windies Skipper, Darren Sammy.

The Kangaroos smashed 281 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the metered 50 overs and the Caribbeans were bowled out for 251 with 16 balls to spare.

The Windies Skipper, Darren Sammy was declared ‘Player of the match’ for his aggressive knock of 84 from just 50 balls.

The final One Day International of the series was played at Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia on March 25, 2012.

Earlier Sammy won the toss and offered the batting to visitors as their openers Shane Watson and David Warner, made an authoritative beginning. Most of the runs were scored in boundaries as they produced 51 runs in the first 10 overs and the flow of runs was hard to stop. Warner was the more attacking of the two and dispatched his fifty on the fourth ball of the 17th over in 50 balls with one six and six fours. They provided a solid foundation for Australia  by putting on board 118 runs off 19.5 overs as Warner was gone for 69 off 61 balls with one six and 10 fours.

Peter Forrest came in next and the consolidation process was carried on as Watson completed his fifty on the last ball of the 22nd over. They added 43 runs for the second wicket when Watson was caught by Marlon Samuels at third man off Andre Russell for 66 from 89 deliveries with one six and four fours. Forrest kept on securing one end as the wickets were sliding at the other end and he was the fifth batsman who went back to the pavilion for 53 runs. Australia posted a reasonable score of 281 runs with one wicket still in hand at the end of the 50th over.

Andre Russell was the most successful bowler and grasped four wickets, Kemar Roach held three and Sunil Narine got two wickets.

West Indies made a horrible start of their innings as they lost three wickets for just 37 runs in 12.2 overs. Adrian Barath held one end and the wickets kept on falling with a little resistance at the other side. The home team was in trouble when he was caught by George Bailey off Xavier Doherty for 42 and they were five wickets down at 76 in 22.5 overs.

The wickets were going down like nine pins and the Windies were reeling at 118 for 7 wickets in 31.1 overs when Darren Sammy and Andre Russell took charge and displayed dynamic cricket. Sammy opened his account with a mighty six over long- on, never looked back after that and collected 16 runs in the 35th over from Brett Lee with two fours and a six. He was severe on Clint McKay and dispatched 22 runs in the 37th over which comprised two lofty sixes, even fours and completed his fifty.

.Russell kept on cruising at the other end while collecting boundaries every now and then and the score board was escalated. The duo added 101 quick fired runs in 9.5 overs when Russell was declared leg before wicket for 41 off 33 balls with 6 fours.

The eighth wicket fell at 219 runs and Sammy carried on with the attack with his brave batting. The capacity crowd at St Lucia enjoyed the thrilling batting from their captain and they applauded him all through his innings. He was finally dismissed by Ben Hilfenhaus for 84 punched off just 50 balls powered by 6 towering sixes and even fours as the innings of the home side was folded back for 251 runs in 47.2 overs.

Brett Lee was the highest wicket taker with three, Clint McKay, Shane Watson and Xavier Doherty shared two wickets each as Ben Hilfenhaus held one.

Australia won an exciting match by 30 runs and the five match hard fought ODI series was levelled 2-2.  It was only after 1999 that the West Indies were able to level the series against Australia as nearly 13 years back the home series under the captaincy of Brian Lara was tied 3-3.


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