CARDIFF, Wales, CMC – West Indies played well in patches but could not withstand an imperious century from opener Shane Watson and slumped to a four-wicket defeat to Australia in their opening warm-up match of the ICC Champions Trophy here yesterday.
Opting to bat first at the SWALEC Stadium, they rallied to 256 for seven off their 50 overs, with elegant left-hander Darren Bravo top scoring with 86 and rookie opener Johnson Charles cracking 55.
Left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc picked up four for 29 while medium pacer Clint McKay supported with three for 34.
Speedster Kemar Roach then produced an incisive burst, claiming two wickets in his first over to leave the Aussies tottering at four runs for two wickets in the second over of their run chase.
However, Watson unveiled a commanding 135 off a mere 98 balls while Adam Voges hit 43 and 21-year-old all-rounder Mitchell Marsh slammed a 19-ball, unbeaten 39 at the end, to see Australia to an easy victory with more than 10 overs to spare.
Roach finished with two for 44 while new ball partner Tino Best claimed two for 51.
Playing their first of two warm-up matches before their official campaign begins next Friday, the Windies were given a breezy start by Charles who put on 28 off 26 balls with left-hander Devon Smith who made seven.
When Smith was taken behind off Starc in the fifth over of the innings, Charles and Darren Bravo entertained with a 65-run, second wicket stand, that put the Windies back in charge.
The right-handed Charles faced 63 balls and counted four fours while Bravo hit 10 fours and two sixes off 99 balls.
McKay claimed Johnson lbw in the first over of a new spell but Bravo anchored two consecutive partnerships to deny the Aussies further success.
He put on 49 with Ramnaresh Sarwan who hit 22 and a further 53 for the fourth wicket with his older brother and captain Dwayne Bravo who scored 20.
Dwayne Bravo was finding his touch when he was prised out by a catch at the wicket off McKay in the 39th over at 195 for four. His dismissal sparked a slide which saw West Indies lose their six wickets for 51 runs.
Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin’s 25 from 29 balls proved precious before he was eighth out in the penultimate over.
Roach then lifted the Windies, knocking over opener David Warner and Philip Hughes without scoring within the space of four deliveries, to catches at the wicket by Ramdin.
However, Watson single-handedly snatched the game away from the Windies. Unfazed by the clatter of wickets around him, he crunched 15 fours and four sixes, to lay waste to the West Indies attack.
He posted 68 for the third wicket with George Bailey who scored 21, before killing off the game as a contest in a 125-run fourth wicket stand with Voges, who counted five fours in his 57-ball knock.
Together, they combined to take 20 runs from Roach’s sixth over – the 30th of the innings – as Australia stepped on the accelerator with victory in sight.
Best accounted for both in successive overs to reduce Australia to 205 for five in the 33rd over but the untried Marsh, who lashed eight fours, and Matthew Wade (15), stunned the Windies with a whirlwind 49-run fifth wicket partnership off 36 balls.
West Indies take on Sri Lanka in their final warm-up match on Tuesday at Edgbaston.
