Cricket
Pollard drives Windies to 220
2013-02-08 09:36
Sydney - Kieron Pollard hit a belligerent
unbeaten century to rescue the West Indies from another embarrassing
total in the fourth one-day international against Australia on Friday.
Pollard
scored 109 off 136 balls to lift the tourists to 220 before the innings
ended with three balls left at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The
towering middle-order batsman kept the West Indian innings from falling
apart after it had tottered at 55 for six before a series of
partnerships with the bowlers gave his side something to defend.
It
was Pollard's third ODI century and his second against Australia and he
had to temper his usual aggressive batting style as the West Indies
threatened to repeat their total of 70 in the first ODI of the series in
Perth.
Australia, who have already wrapped up the best-of-five
match series with victories in Perth and Canberra, need 221 at 4.42 from
their innings, under lights.
Johnson Charles, one of three team
changes, lasted three balls before he became Mitchell Johnson's first of
three victims when he had his offstump sent cartwheeling out of the
ground.
His opening partner Kieran Powell followed in the eighth
over, caught at point off a leading edge for nine with Johnson building
up a head of steam and bowling with great rhythm.
Darren Bravo was
out three balls later trying to fend a Johnson lifter only to be caught
at second slip for four, leaving the West Indies wobbling at 17 for
three.
Bravo's brother, Dwayne, lasted eight balls for his three before he was given out leg before wicket to Glenn Maxwell on review.
Narsingh
Deonarine, in for injured Chris Gayle, got a thick edge off Ben Cutting
to Aaron Finch at second slip for 10. Wicketkeeper Devon Thomas went
for seven after a long review concluded that the ball carried to Finch
at slip for Cutting's second wicket.
Andre Russell put on 35 runs
with Pollard for the eighth wicket before he holed out to Maxwell at
long-off off James Faulkner for 18 off 17 balls.
Sunil Narine joined in the best partnership of the innings with 64 before he was caught behind off Clint McKay for 23.
Tino Best was run out for one in a mix-up with Pollard in the final over.
Johnson finished with three for 36 off his 10 overs and Cutting captured three for 45 off 10.