Sydney, Australia: Rain ruined the Windies chances of reversing their fortunes in the five match One Day International Series between the West Indies and Australia yesterday.
With the third game ending in a weather-enforced no result, the Windies are now unable to win the series though that would have taken a remarkable turnaround in fortunes.
Australia lead the series 2-0 and with two matches remaining the best result for the visitors can only be a drawn series.
Australia were able to complete their innings and made a modest 225 all out with a single delivery in their innings unused.
Michael Clarke topscored with 46 as Ravi Rampaul took 4 for 61. Dwayne Smith, who opened the bowling in place of the injured Kemar Roach , supported admirably with 3 for 45 from a full quota of 10 overs. The left handed veteran – Michael Hussey – contributed 44 runs to the Aussie total as none of their batsmen reached the half century mark.
There were, however, contributions throughout the order with James Hopes getting 30 and captain Ricky Ponting 22.
A rain intervention at the commencement of the run chase caused the Windies target to be revised to 151 from 24 overs but it never got going proper as the weather prevented what could have been an entertaining run chase.
The Windies had made two changes for the game. One was forced the other optional. Kemar Roach’s place was taken by all rounder Darren Sammy while Runako Morton, opener in the first two ODIs, was dropped for Wavell Hinds who was slotted into the middle order and Travis Dowlin moved up to the opening position.
Two ODIs remain with the Windies needing to win both to draw the series.
SCOREBOARD
AUSTRALIA innings (max: 50 overs)
+T Paine b Rampaul 16
A Voges lbw b Smith 8
R Ponting b Sammy 22
*M Clarke c wkp Ramdin b Sammy 46
C White c wkp Ramdin b Pollard 17
M Hussey b Smith 44
J Hopes c Deonarine b Rampaul 30
M Johnson c Pollard b Smith 2
N Hauritz b Rampaul 2
R Harris c Pollard b Rampaul 21
D Bollinger not out 0
Extras (lb5, w12) 17
TOTAL (all out, 49.5 overs) 225
Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Paine, 7 overs), 2-30 (Voges, 7.4), 3-78 (Ponting, 18.4), 4-107 (White, 29.1), 5-144 (Clarke, 37.1), 6-194 (Hussey, 47), 7-198 (Hopes, 47.2), 8-202 (Hauritz, 48), 9-206 (Johnson, 48.4), 10-225 (Harris, 49.5).
Bowling: Rampaul 9.5-0-61-4, Smith 10-0-45-3, Sammy 10-0-46-2, Pollard 9-2-26-1, Miller 10-0-35-0, Gayle 1-0-7-0.
WEST INDIES (target: 151 runs from 24 overs)
*C Gayle not out 0
T Dowlin not out 0
Extras (b4, w2) 6
TOTAL (without loss, 1 over) 6
Did not bat: L Simmons, N Deonarine, W Hinds, K Pollard, +D Ramdin, D Smith, D Sammy, N Miller, R Rampaul.
Bowling: Bollinger 1-0-2-0.
Result: Match abandoned.
Series: Australia lead the five-match series 2-0.
Toss: West Indies.
Umpires: B. Bowden, B. Oxenford; TV – P. Reiffel.