3rd ODI: Watson ton helps Australia to series-clinching victory

Hosts continue winning momentum as they defeat West Indies by 39 runs.

CANBERRA:

Shane Watson celebrated his return to international cricket with a sparkling innings of 122 to drive Australia to a 39-run victory over West Indies in the third One-day International (ODI) and an unassailable 3-0 series lead.

The 31-year-old opener’s 111-ball knock yesterday helped Australia to 329 for seven in their 50 overs and West Indies flirted with reaching the big victory target before James Faulkner (four for 48) polished them off for 290 with 15 balls to spare.

Darren Bravo top scored with 86 for West Indies, who will be playing only for pride in the remaining two matches in Sydney and Melbourne after a third emphatic defeat.

It was the first ODI ever played in the nation’s capital and the Manuka Oval track certainly gave the batsmen plenty of opportunity to score runs.

Watson, who missed much of the domestic season through injury conjured up two fours and two sixes in the next nine balls before holing out to Kieron Pollard at backward square leg.



“I’ve been dreaming of that for the last four weeks,” said Watson, one of whose sixes was measured at 114 metres. “It was one of those days that you dream of when even from the first ball it feels like everything’s coming off the middle of your bat. I’m just so excited to be out here and playing.”

Phil Hughes offered able support with 86 runs before being caught behind off the bowling of Darren Sammy, while the innings of Glenn Maxwell and George Bailey were both ended by stunning leaping catches from Pollard on the boundary.

West Indies started their run-chase at a slow pace but soon picked up with typical flourish to match Australia’s run rate at around the 30 over mark.

Left-arm seamer Faulkner made two crucial interventions, however, the first when he bowled dangerman Chris Gayle and Darren Bravo in the space of four balls to leave West Indies at 215 for five.

He returned to end the match by claiming the wickets of Sunil Narine and Darren Sammy in three deliveries. All four of his victims in the match were bowled.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2013.