SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – Kieron Pollard’s third One-Day International century could not prevent another West Indies defeat, as their five-match series against Australia quickly turned to disaster here yesterday.
The big-hitting right-hander stroked a mature, unbeaten 109 to haul West Indies around from the turmoil of 55 for six in the 20th over and steer them to a respectable 220 all out off 49.4 overs.
All-rounder Shane Watson then hammered 76, his second half-century in as many games as Australia cantered to a comfortable five-wicket win with five overs left at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The defeat was the fourth straight for West Indies, leaving them on the brink of a dreaded whitewash, with the final ODI scheduled for Melbourne tomorrow.
Not for the first time in the series, West Indies batting collapsed under disciplined bowling and smart catching from the Aussies, after they won the toss and opted to take first knock.
Left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson starred with three for 36 while fast bowler Ben Cutting, in his first game of the series, picked up three for 45.
Johnson Charles, in for the injured Chris Gayle, lasted all of three balls without scoring before missing a prod at Johnson
Scoreboard
WEST INDIES
K Powell c Maxwell b Johnson 9
J Charles b Johnson 0
DM Bravo c Finch b Johnson 4
DJ Bravo lbw b Maxwell 3
K Pollard not out 109
N Deonarine c Finch b Cutting 10
+D Thomas c Finch b Cutting 7
*D Sammy c Clarke b Cutting 25
A Russell c Maxwell b Faulkner 18
S Narine c wkp Wade b McKay 23
T Best run out 1
Extras (b1, lb1, w9) 11
TOTAL (all out, 49.4 overs) 220
Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Charles, 3.5 overs), 2-17 (Powell, 7.3), 3-17 (DM Bravo, 8), 4-22 (DJ Bravo, 10.4), 5-45 (Deonarine, 17.3), 6-55 (Thomas, 19.2), 7-98 (Sammy, 32), 8-133 (Russell, 38.3), 9-197 (Narine, 46.1), 10-220 (Best, 49.4)
Bowling: McKay 10-2-41-1, Johnson 10-1-36-3 (w4), Maxwell 10-0-34-1 (w1), Cutting 10-1-45-3 (w1), Faulkner 9.4-1-62-1(w3)
AUSTRALIA
S Watson c wkp Thomas b Best 76
A Finch lbw b Narine 25
P Hughes c DJ Bravo b Narine 23
*M Clarke c wkp Thomas b Best 37
A Voges c Sammy b Russell 28
+M Wade not out 13
G Maxwell not out 1
Extras (lb8, w8, nb2) 18
TOTAL (5 wkts, 44.5 overs) 221
Did not bat: J Faulkner, M Johnson, B Cutting, C McKay.
Fall of wickets: 1-53 (Finch, 9.5 overs), 2-115 (Hughes, 23.2), 3-145 (Watson, 28.4), 4-198 (Voges, 41.3), 5-220 (Clarke, 44.3)
Bowling: Best 9.5-0-38-2 (w3), Russell 6-0-40-1 (w1, nb2), Sammy 2-0-16-0 (w1), Narine 10-1-34-2, DJ Bravo 4-0-25-0 (w1), Deonarine 8-0-38-0, Pollard 5-0-22-0 (w2).
Result: Australia won by five wickets.
Series: Australia lead five-match series 4-0.
Man-of-the-Match: Kieron Pollard.
Toss: West Indies.
Umpires: S Fry, N Llong; TV – Asad Rauf.