Australia 311 all out (Michael Hussey 73, Shane Watson 56, Kemar Roach 5-105) and 160-8 declared (Ricky Ponting 41, Matthew Wade 31*, Roach 5-41) match drawn with West Indies 257 all out (Shivnarine Chanderpaul 94, Narsingh Deonarine 55, Nathan Lyon 5-68) and 53-2 (Darren Sammy 30*, Ben Hilfenhaus 2-22)
Michael Clarke took a bold decision while declaring at160-8 and Darren Sammy accepted the challenge of scoring 215 runs but rain terminated an interesting finish.
The Kangaroos amassed 311 runs in their first innings and the Caribbeans responded with 257. The visitors secured a lead of 54 runs and declared their second innings at 160 for the loss of 8 wickets by setting a target of 215 runs for the home side to win the match. The Windies managed 53 after losing two wickets and the match was concluded as a draw due to continuous rain involvement.
Kemar Roach (West Indies) was declared ‘Player of the match’ for his maiden 10 wickets haul in the Test cricket. He achieved the feat of taking 10 wickets in the match against Australia by a West Indian bowler after a lapse of nearly 19 years. Curtly Ambrose previously grasped 10 wickets in the Adelaide Test played on January 23, 24, 25 and 26, 1993 which was won by the visitors with a narrow margin of just one run.
The second Test came to an end on April 19, 2012 at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Earlier, Australia resumed their second innings on the fifth and final day of the match at 73 for the loss of three wickets in 30 overs whereas Ricky Ponting and the skipper Michael Clarke were at the crease with 17 and 3 runs respectively. The visitors initiated the day in a calm manner and no urgency was seen in the batting as the score was taken to 89 at the end of the 39th over. Ponting became the first victim when he was caught at deep backward square leg by Kieran Powell on the bowling of Fidel Edwards for 41.
The fourth wicket fell at 93 and two runs later, Clarke was caught and bowled by Darren Sammy for 15 as Michael Hussey and Matthew Wade tries to gather the innings. The batsmen found it hard to score the runs and accumulated just 13 runs from over no.41 to 50. They enhanced the score to 145 when Hussey was clean bowled by Roach for 24 runs on the third ball of the 59th over. Wade remained unbeaten for 31 runs as the 8th wicket fell at 160 runs and Clarke made a brave declaration. West Indies were given a task of chasing 215 runs in the possible 59 overs and an exhilarating finish was on the way.
Kemar Roach was once again the pick of the bowlers by grabbing five wickets as Fidel Edwards, Shane Shillingford and Darren Sammy claimed one wicket each.
West Indies openers, Adrian Barath and Kieran Powell, entered the centre in the diminishing light as the umpires were having a constant look at the light meters. Ben Hilfenhaus struck early in the second innings of the Windies by sending back both openers at mere 13 runs in 3.5 overs and the home side was struggling when Sammy took the challenge and promoted him up in the batting order. He dispatched two consecutive fours to Shane Watson in the fifth over and carried on with the attack by punishing Ben Hilfenhaus for 14 runs with one six and two fours in the eighth over.
The unbroken second wicket partnership between Sammy and Darren Bravo contributed 40 runs when the play was called off due to the bad light. West Indies reached at 53 after losing two wickets in 11 overs, Sammy was unbeaten with 30 off 26 balls with the help of one six and 4 fours as Bravo was at the crease for 8 runs.
The possible fascinating match concluded in a draw because of the regular interruption of the weather as Australia is leading the series 1-0. The third and final Test of the series will be played at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica from April 23, 2012.
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