The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Rain saves Australia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 22, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Rain saves Australia

BRISBANE, JAN. 21. Rain at the Gabba on Friday saved Australia from a likely defeat against the West Indies in a tri-series limited-overs cricket match.

The West Indies had Australia in trouble at 43 for five after 11 overs, chasing a revised target of 195 off 28 overs. The no-result gave each team two points in the tri-series standings.

The West Indian pace attack supplemented the strong batting of century-making opener Wavell Hinds, who led the visiting side to a respectable 263 for nine in its 50 overs. Left-arm bowler Pedro Collins (three for eight) then took the initiative by mowing the home side's top-order, starting with Matthew Hayden (6) in the third over.

Ian Bradshaw followed with the wicket of Adam Gilchrist and Australia was 12 for two when rain intervened for the first time after five overs.

A two-hour, 20-minute delay saw the target revised, leaving the unbeaten series leader 23 overs to get 183 at just under eight runs an over.

Damien Martyn hit two of Merv Dillon's first three balls after resumption to the boundary. In the next over, Collins trapped Ricky Ponting leg before for two and had Andrew Symonds caught behind for his fourth duck in five matches.

Soon after, Australia was 30 for five when Michael Clarke hit Dillon to Marlon Samuels at mid-on and the West Indies was on track for its first victory of the series after two losses.

But rain returned and while the umpires stood their ground for two overs, Martyn complained to the umpires and play was stopped.

It is the second international match in just over a month to be washed out at the Gabba.

Last month's match between Australia and New Zealand was abandoned without a ball being bowled. The no-result means unbeaten Australia needs only to win one of its final three matches in the triangular series to guarantee a berth in the finals. It plays Pakistan in Sydney on Sunday.

Hinds, 107 from 138 balls, hit his third one-day century in four matches to help set Australia 264 runs for victory.

The left-hander notched up his third one-day century in four matches against Australia and lifted the tourist from 92 for three in the 23rd over when captain Brian Lara was unfairly given out for six — caught behind off Brett Lee. Hinds found his range late and found support in Shivnarine Chanderpaul (45 off 48) and Dwayne Bravo (27 off 22).— AP

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