24 June 2008

Shaun Marsh marked his One Day International debut with a fluent half-century as Australia beat the West Indies by 84 runs in the first match of five at Arnos Vale in Kingstown.

Australia made 273 for eight with Brad Haddin also hitting a half-century before bowling West Indies out for 189 in the 40th over, Nathan Bracken taking four for 31.

The new opening partnership of Marsh and Shane Watson added 75 for the first wicket in quick time as the West Indian bowlers offered plenty of runs and also saw Xavier Marshall leave the field with what looked like a serious shoulder injury.

Watson (31) was first to go, trapped in front by Dwayne Bravo before Marsh brought up a 55-ball half-century. His captain Ricky Ponting was bowled by Jerome Taylor off an inside edge; the fourth time in six matches that Taylor has dismissed him and his vice-captain fared little better, Michael Clarke caught behind off of Darren Sammy for nine.

Marsh was next to go having hit 81 from 97 deliveries with seven fours and a six, caught by Chris Gayle for Sammy's second wicket.

Brad Haddin (50) and Michael Hussey (44) then added 91 for the fifth wicket to ensure Australia would set a competitive total. Haddin hit four fours and a six in his innings, Hussey just the one four before both were caught by Keiron Pollard off the bowling of Sulieman Benn and Gayle, who had opened the bowling, respectively.

Cameron White (eight) and James Hopes (nine) fell late on looking for late runs while Brett Lee was unbeaten having hit 12 from five balls and Mitchell Johnson three from the only ball he faced.

Bravo finished with two for 54 while Sammy was impressive, taking two for 31 as Gayle was forced to use seven bowlers in all.

West Indies lost wickets regularly throughout their reply and no batsman could stay in long enough for them to threaten the Australian score.

Marshall (six), Gayle (20) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (two) came to grief during the opening spell from Lee and Bracken, exposing a youthful middle order with no Shivnarine Chanderpaul to fall back on.

Andre Fletcher toiled manfully for his 26 before being run out and Dwayne Bravo was typically flamboyant before he was trapped in front by Clarke for 33. Keiron Pollard was caught behind by Haddin off of Johnson after he had hit a six.

Ramdin (31) and Sammy (33) added 52 for the seventh wicket, but once Ramdin fell, bowled by Watson, all hope was pretty much gone.

Jerome Taylor blasted a six but was soon gone as Bracken returned to get rid of him for 11, Sammy, and Sulieman Benn (seven), leaving Fidel Edwards unbeaten on one and Australia looking back to their best after being humbled in the Twenty20 International.

And Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds are still to return, although the West Indies will point to Chanderpaul's absence as a key factor in their demise.

The match is the first of five which follows Australia's 2-0 Test series win and the Twenty20 match, which was won by seven wickets by the West Indies.

© Cricket World 2008

Australia In West Indies 2007/8