WI end Australia’s unbeaten run in ODIs

West Indies ended Australia’s record 21-match unbeaten run in one-day internationals on Sunday with a 39-run victory in the fifth of se...

West Indies ended Australia’s record 21-match unbeaten run in one-day internationals on Sunday with a 39-run victory in the fifth of seven matches. Australia had already taken an unbeatable 4-0 lead in the series.

A plucky 77 by Andy Symonds helped Australia to 251 for nine but it was not enough to enable the world champions to overhaul West Indies’ 290 for five from their 50 overs.

West Indies’ skipper Brian Lara used his spinners to good effect, including the surprise choice of Ramnaresh Sarwan who took one for 53 from his 10 overs, bowling leg spin from around the wicket.

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Lara’s stylish 80 was the highlight of a competitive West Indies’ total. The left-hander batted at number three to bring stability to a shaky upper order and shared a crucial 178-run partnership with opener Hinds. He barely had time to pad up after winning the toss when Chris Gayle (5) was trapped lbw by an inswinging delivery from fast bowler Brett Lee.

Lara played himself in against some hostile pace bowling by Lee and Glenn McGrath and began to stroke the ball around the Queen’s Park Oval with ease.

Hinds’ powerful drives provided a pleasing contrast to Lara’s deft strokes. The opener hit eight boundaries and crashed two mighty sixes into the stands to push up the West Indies’ run rate.

Brief scores: West Indies 290 for 5 wkts (W. inds 79; B.Lara 80; M Samuels 42; Lee 3 for 56, Bichel 2 for 67) beat Australia 251 for 9 wkts (A.Symonds 77, M Clarke 39; M Bevan 31; Collymore 2 for 25, Dillon 3 for 40, Samuels 2 for 48) by 39 runs.