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Australia completes the formalities

Bollinger finishes with eight wickets; Gayle adjudged Man-of-the-Match

PERTH: Australia required 21 balls on the fifth morning to seal the third Test at the WACA for a 2-0 series win over West Indies. Australia had already retained the Frank Worrell Trophy after winning the first Test at Brisbane and drawing the second at Adelaide.

But credit must go to West Indies for the fight it displayed, the most recent instance of which was the chase of 359 for a series-levelling win.

The 128-run partnership between Narsingh Deonarine (82) and Brendan Nash (65) on the fourth day had taken West Indies to a position of strength, but the touring side’s chances diminished when it lost six wickets in the final session. The lower order, however, had allowed West Indies a long shot.

The last-wicket pair of Kemar Roach and Gavin Tonge, who had put on 29 on the fourth day, began Sunday with 51 required. They had added 15, worrying the Australians, when Roach was adjudged caught behind off Doug Bollinger.

The batsman immediately asked for a review. The replays didn’t show a clear nick and Hot Spots thermal imaging revealed nothing. The stump microphone did pick up a noise however. Eventually Billy Bowden raised his finger for a second time following consultation with Asad Rauf.

Bollinger finished with eight wickets in the match, reward for the effort he put in. But it was Chris Gayle who was named the Man of the Match for his 72-ball 102.

“Congrats to Ricky (Ponting) and his team, you guys played better cricket,” said Gayle. “I’m really happy for my team and the way they played but very disappointed as well.”

Ponting admitted his side had been in a battle in the second and third Tests.

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