| |
 Hit for four Gilchrist, Warne star in victory against West Indies
Posted: Sunday April 25, 1999 12:01 PM
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) -- Leg-spinner Shane Warne took three crucial wickets and opener Adam Gilchrist hit an aggressive 64 as Australia beat the West Indies by four wickets in the sixth one-day cricket international Saturday. The tourists took a 3-2 lead in the seven-match series with the final match at the same venue on Sunday. Warne took three for 28 off 10 overs as the West Indies wasted an excellent start to finish with 249 for five from 50 overs. Gilchrist's robust innings set up Australia's successful chase, the tourists reaching 253 for six wickets with nine balls to spare. Vice-captain Warne pegged the West Indies back with the wickets of both openers Ridley Jacobs and Sherwin Campbell after the pair had got the home team off to a flying start. The West Indies won the toss for the first time in the series, and Jacobs and Campbell added 81 for the first wicket from just 11 overs. But the introduction of Warne changed the complexion of the match. The 29-year-old Victorian, who has rediscovered his form after being dropped from the test team, broke through by removing Campbell to a wicketkeeper's catch. Soon afterwards, the dangerous Jacobs became Warne's second victim, picking out the deep midwicket fielder as the left-hander miscued his swing to leg. Campbell scored 24 off 27 balls with three fours, while Jacobs was more aggressive, striking 11 boundaries and two sixes in his career-best 68 off 56 balls. Warne and off-spinner Mark Waugh teamed up in the middle of the innings to restrict the West Indies scoring. Captain Jimmy Adams and fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul added 61 for the fourth wicket but they could never gain the momentum of Jacobs and Campbell. Adams, captaining the side for the second time in place of the injured Brian Lara, took 70 balls over his 46. Chanderpaul, still struggling with his form after returning from a lay-off due to a shoulder injury, made an unconvincing 44 off 71 balls. Mark Waugh supported Warne well with one for 35 from 10 overs, claiming Chanderpaul to a miscued pull. Australia's reply started in similar fashion to the West Indies, with Waugh and Gilchrist posting 70 runs off 11 overs before being separated. Waugh chipped a catch to mid on off Mervyn Dillon after scoring 25 off 28 balls with four fours. Gilchrist went on to 64 off 55 balls with nine boundaries and two sixes before he edged a cut at Hendy Bryan to the wicketkeeper. The top order kept the Australians on a victory course with Brendon Julian, promoted to No. 3, hitting 31 off 33 balls and Ricky Ponting 43 off 82 balls. But when they slipped to 206 for six in the 43rd over, the West Indies scented a fight-back. Michael Bevan assured there would be none and the left-hander, universally known as the best "finisher" in the game, remained unbeaten to the end, with 35 off 50 balls with five fours. He was missed crucially by Stuart Williams when 24 and the total at 226 for six, the fielder grassing a swirling high catch off Reon King. After that, the West Indies' fate was sealed. The seventh and final match is at the same venue here Sunday.
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
| |||||||||||||||||||||
