An intriguing Test match ended in a watery draw yesterday but at the end of the second Digicel Test at the Queen's Park Oval, the doubters of the future of the longer format of the game became believers. The draw ensured Australia retained the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy as they maintained their 1-0 lead, with the final Test to come this weekend in Dominica. With captains like Michael Clarke and Darren Sammy, the game is safe, as both leaders tried to drain out a positive result amidst all the rain that spoilt a promising end to a great Test match. Australia's captain Michael Clarke made a sporting declaration at 160 for eight, setting the West Indies a victory target of 215 runs from a minimum 61 overs. The West Indies skipper Sammy then did his part by coming in at number three and throwing caution to the wind in a whirlwind innings that promised much.
He clouted an unbeaten 30 off 26 balls with four fours and a six but never got the opportunity to convert the effort into a positive result as rain intervened after 11 overs with West Indies 52 for two. West Indies had lost openers Keiran Powell (4) and Adrian Barath (5) early on but with Darren Bravo (8 not out) and Sammy at the crease, there was little doubt they were going for the win. Earlier, Australia resumed on 73 for three, and they too, played positively in the bid to have an outright result. Overnight pair Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke batted positively before Ponting hooked Fidel Edwards into the hands of Keiran Powell at deep square leg. Two runs later, Clarke (15) fell to a brilliant caught and bowl effort by Sammy and with the score 95 for five, Windies were scenting blood.
However, the pair of Michael Hussey and Matthew Wade frustrated West Indies, adding 50 runs for the sixth wicket before Hussey made his exit–cleaned up by Roach for 24. The Barbadian pacer then removed Ben Hilfenhaus for a duck to claim five wickets in the innings for the second time in the match and ten in total. In the process, he became the first West Indian, since Curtly Ambrose (in 1993 at Adelaide), to take a ten-wicket haul against Australia. The last West Indian to take a ten-wicket haul against any team was Corey Collymore in Kingston 2005 Test vs Pakistan. The bangwagon now shifts to Dominica and there has been a message sent to the South American mainland for Guyanese Assad Fudadin to join the team. He replaces Barbadian Kirk Edwards who has an injured knee.
SCOREBOARD
West Indies vs Australia
Australia 1st inns 311
West Indies 1st inns 257
Aus 2nd inns
(overnight 73/3)
E Cowan lbw Roach*20
D Warner c Bravo b Roach*17
S Watson b Roach*0
R Ponting c Powell b Edwards*41
M Clarke c&b Sammy*15
M Hussey b Roach*24
M Wade not out*31
B Hilfenhaus b Roach*0
N Lyon c Sammy b Shillingford*3
Extras b4, lb1, w1, nb3*9
Total for 8 dec*160
Fall of wkts: 26, 26, 57, 93, 95, 145, 149, 160.
Bowling: F Edwards 10-2-28-1 (1nb), S Shillingford 23.5-4-55-1, K Roach 18-4-41-5 (1nb), D Sammy 8-0-17-1 (1nb, 1w), N Deonarine 2-0-14-0.
West Indies 2nd inns
A Barath c Clarke b Hilfenhaus*5
K Powell lbw Hilfenhaus*4
D Sammy not out*30
D Bravo not out*8
Extas b6*6
Total for 2 wkts*53
Fall of wkts: 6, 13.
Bowling: M Beer 4-1-10-0, B Hilfenhaus 4-0-22-2, S Watson 3-1-15-0.
Result: Match drawn.
Australia leads series 1-0, retains Sir Frank Worrell Trophy.
Man-of-match: Kemar Roach.