Jamaican Marlon Samuels led the West Indies to a convincing four-wicket win over Australia in the one-day international tri-series at Warner Park in St Kitts Monday.
Samuels produced an 87-ball 92 as the hosts chased down Australia’s 265-7 with 26 balls to spare for an important win.
His starring role meant his team was largely untroubled in the chase, with opener Johnson Charles (48) and Darren Bravo (39) playing important innings.
Usman Khawaja (98), Steve Smith (74) and George Bailey (55) had put Australia on track after they were put in to bat.
However, despite some late hitting from Bailey, Australia were unable to push to a big enough total to secure victory.
Charles and Andre Fletcher (27) ensured the Windies made a fast start and when the latter fell at the hands of James Faulkner (1-31) in the 10th over, his team were 74-1.
Adam Zampa (2-60) trapped Charles in front soon after, but Samuels and Bravo steadied the hosts with an 82-run partnership.
The pair kept the run rate up and by the time Samuels departed, West Indies needed just 26 off 56 balls.
Samuels had smashed Zampa for three consecutive sixes to start the 41st over before being run out by Matthew Wade.
There were some nervous late moments as wickets fell at regular intervals, but Samuels had done enough to set up his team’s win.
Khawaja appeared to be doing the same despite the departure of Aaron Finch (0) in the first over and he reached 50 off 60 balls for his second successive half-century at Warner Park.
Promoted to opener with David Warner out injured, Khawaja combined with Smith for a 170-run stand.
After Smith fell, a brilliant throw from Jerome Taylor would see Khawaja run out just two runs short of his century as Australia were left at 196-3.
Wickets fell regularly in the closing overs, including debutant Travis Head (1), and it proved to be costly as the Windies chased down the target with relative ease.
The tri-series ends on Wednesday with West Indies facing South Africa.
Australia are leading the series on nine points from their four games, one ahead of the West Indies on eight points from three games, while South Africa are third on last on five points from three games.
[Source: loopnewsbarbados]
