Twenty20 Series Tied As West Indies Hit Back

Twenty20 Series Tied As West Indies Hit Back

Dwayne Smith carted a quick half-century to set the West Indies up for victory over Australia

©REUTERS / Action Images

West Indies 160 (Smith 63, Lee 3-23) beat
Australia 146-9 (Warner 58) by 14 runs
Second Twenty20 International, Barbados
Scorecard

The West Indies beat Australia by 14 runs in the second and final Twenty20 International in Barbados to tie the series at 1-1, following an equally tight One-Day International series, where the two sides drew 2-2.

A dashing half-century from Dwayne Smith preceded an Australian fightback which saw the West Indies bowled out for 160 but despite David Warner hitting 58, Australia could only reach 146 for nine in reply.

Smith and Johnson Charles (37) put on 72 for the first wicket but Australia bowled themselves back into the contest as Brett Lee took three wickets and Clint McKay two.

After Smith, who faced 35 balls, and Charles, who faced just 21, had been dismissed, Dwayne Bravo (23 in 24 balls) was the only other player to reach double figures as the home side had to quickly abandon any hope of the huge scores that were projected when Smith and Charles were at the crease.

Shane Watson also grabbed a brace of wickets and there was one apiece for Xavier Doherty and Daniel Christian.

Watson's involvement in the match was quickly over as he fell for a duck but with Warner and George Bailey (24 in 18 balls) joining forces, Australia began to make solid progress.

After Marlon Samuels dismissed Bailey and Michael Hussey (14), Dwayne Bravo ran out Warner and the tide began to turn.

David Hussey and Matthew Wade launched a huge six apiece on their way to scores of 19 and 17 respectively but after briefly raising hopes of an unlikely comeback, their dismissals handed the West Indies the initiative.

Fidel Edwards then removed Christian (3) and Lee (0) in consecutive deliveries and after McKay blasted a six, he was bowled by Bravo.

Edwards finished with figures of three for 23, Samuels also caught and bowled Wade to return the same figures and Bravo's haul was two for 27.

The two sides now begin preparations for the three-match Test series which begins in Barbados on 7th April.

© Cricket World 2012