The Hindu : Sport : Lara's artistry sees West Indies through

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Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006
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Lara's artistry sees West Indies through

S. Ram Mahesh

Michael Hussey's brilliant century resuscitates the Australian innings

PHOTO: S. SUBRAMANIUM

PRIZE SCALP: Dwayne Bravo celebrates the fall of Matthew Hayden.

Kuala Lumpur: The efforts of Michael Hussey (109 not out) and Brad Haddin (70) in resuscitating an Australian innings, given up for dead, were excellent. Indeed, one wondered if a better example of pacing a partnership could be found. Hussey, in his first match as captain, and Haddin, stopgap till the Champions Trophy, put on 165, rescuing their side from the depths of 104 for five.

A target of 273 on a track that was decidedly duplicitous in pace was expected to be tricky. Difficult even. But, Australia — with seven changes from its previous game — had to contend with the multi-textured luminosity of Brian Lara, who at 37, continues to confound biology. From the first thrilling slash past point — his bat a blur of accelerating wood — the left-hander looked in the mood.

When Lara departed for an 80-ball 87, caught at a wide slip off the back of his bat, he had nearly given West Indies the victory that will severely hinder India's chances of making the final. After a nasty bout of hiccups — four wickets fell for 13 — Dwayne Bravo, with a sweetly-struck six at a parlous moment, ensured this time the position wasn't squandered. The islanders completed a three-wicket win in the fourth match of the DLF Cup.

West Indies now has nine points from three games to Australia's seven also from three games. India, with two from two, now has to win both remaining league matches. And hope.

Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan had rustled together 32 — Shivnarine Chanderpaul had earlier unluckily been given out caught off his pad — before Lara's genius made its virtuoso appearance. The slash was followed by the most sublime of off-drives. Seldom has a bat-swing seemed as unfettered. Seldom have arms moved as fluidly. The left-handedness of it all made it a darned sight prettier.

Gayle, after a juddering pull for six, nearly be-headed Stuart Clark twice with blows of scary power. More long-shanked biffs, and he had passed 50 in 56 balls. Clark was taken for 44 in his first three overs. Lara, meanwhile, was twitching his wrists at deliveries on off, when not unloading into cover drives, deceptively violent and beautifully complex.

Dan Cullen, Australia's off-spin prodigy, was brought on, and Lara itched to show him who was in charge. He floated down the track, and dabbed one behind point for four. Then he backed away, walked back into line, and loosened his wrists to persuade another past keeper Haddin. This was merely the aperitif for what was to follow later in the innings: a gossamer straight six with a conception of stroke Ernie Els would have knowingly acknowledged.

Fifty-seven had come between overs 10 and 15; Hussey, who had delayed Power Play 3, chose to exercise it in over 29, and brought back Brett Lee. West Indies had reached 161 for two. Lee began well with an over that leaked just one run. But, Lara and Gayle had decided to gorge on a nervous Clark. The tall 30-year-old, who Australian selectors felt was cast in McGrath's mould, had trouble landing it. When he did manage to put one in the right region, his front foot was invariably over the line.

Lara ambled down to Clark, picked one on the full, and wristed it past a diving mid-on. Gayle had earlier collared the paceman for his third six. Clark was relieved off his misery by Hussey after an eleven-ball over that went for 23.

Just when things seemed sealed, Gayle pulled Watson straight to the Australian skipper. The stroke was one of few blemishes in the 151-run alliance ( 19.3 overs), and it invoked memories of the nine-for-twenty-nine crumble, which was very nearly played out again.

Disciplined start

Earlier, a disciplined start by the West Indies bowlers kept Australia's batsmen in check. Those of who remained when not finding a way of getting out that is. Hayden scratched around for a coarse 49 before Hussey and Haddin took over. The pair's batting brought together all that is good about Australian cricket. Hard-run ones and twos were interspersed with both batsmen teeing off at will. Hussey reached his first ODI hundred in 86 balls, his second fifty coming in just 34 balls. But, even this finest of one-day centuries had to accede to Lara's master-class studded with 11 fours and a six.

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