Kieron Pollard smashed a blistering century as West Indies defeated Australia by 42 runs in the fourth one-day international on Friday to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The 24-year-old Pollard hit eight sixes and five fours in his 70-ball 102 as the West Indies made 294 for seven off 50 overs, their highest score at the picturesque Beausejour Stadium.
In reply, Australia, who were dismissed for 252, never recovered from losing five wickets in making 112 by the 21st over despite skipper Shane Watson (28), Peter Forrest (24), George Bailey (25) and Mike Hussey (26) all getting decent starts. A sixth-wicket partnership of 67 between David Hussey and Matthew Wade kept Australia in the game.
But when Wade holed out with an ugly slog off Pollard's medium pace from the last ball of the 34th over, after making a solid 16 to provide David Hussey with valuable support, the game was virtually up for Australia. Hussey was then clean-bowled by Kemar Roach for 57 off 54 balls, an innings which featured seven fours.
His dismissal in the 39th over, with the score on 196 for seven, came just two balls after Brett Lee had been hurt when a wild Roach full toss clattered into his left hand. But Lee valiantly hit back by making a career-best 59, an exciting cameo which featured five fours and five sixes before he ran out of partners.
"Today was just what we've been looking for, when we were sitting down as a batting group and planning," said West Indies skipper Darren Sammy, whose side can claim a first series win over Australia in 17 years if they take Sunday's last match. Watson admitted his batsmen had let his side down. The third ODI on Tuesday ended in a thrilling tie while the final match takes place here on Sunday.
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Scoreboard West Indies
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J. Charles c Lee b Doherty 37
A. Barath c Wade b McKay 41
M. Samuels c Wade b Lee 11
Darren Bravo c D. Hussey b Watson 25
Dwayne Bravo lbw b Doherty 0
K. Pollard c M. Hussey b Lee 102
A. Russell c Bailey b Watson 34
D. Sammy not out 31
C. Baugh not out 0
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Extras: (lb3, w10) 13
Total: (7 wkts; 50 overs) 294
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Did not bat: S. Narine, K. Roach
Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-83, 3-106, 4-106, 5-146, 6-240, 7-278
Bowling: Lee 10-0-72-2 (2w), Hilfenhaus 10-1-43-0 (5w), McKay 10-1-43-0 (2w), Watson 10-0-55-2 (1w), Doherty 10-1-64-2.
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Australia
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S. Watson c Roach b Sammy 28
D. Warner c Narine b Dwayne Bravo 1
P. Forrest c Charles b Sammy 24
G. Bailey c Baugh b Russell 25
M. Hussey c Baugh b Russell 26
D. Hussey b Roach 57
M. Wade c Russell b Pollard 16
B. Lee c sub b Roach 59
C. McKay c Pollard b Dwayne Bravo 2
X. Doherty c Sammy b Narine 1
B. Hilfenhaus not out 0
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Extras: (lb1, w11, nb2) 13
Total: (all out; 46.3 overs) 252
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Fall of wickets 1-3, 2-56, 3-62, 4-111, 5-112, 6-179, 7-196, 8-235, 9-250, 10-252
Bowling: Roach 9.3-0-74-2 (1nb, 3w), Dwayne Bravo 6-0-47-2 (5w), Narine 10-0-21-1 (1w), Sammy 9-0-42-2 (1nb), Russell 7-0-34-2 (1w), Samuels 3-0-17-0 (1w), Pollard 2-0-16-1
Toss: Australia
Result: West Indies won by 42 runs
Series: West Indies lead 2-1; one match tied
Fifth match: Gros Islet, Sunday
Umpires: Gregory Brathwaite (WIS) and Shavir Tarapore (IND)
TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
Reserve umpire: Peter Nero (WIS).