Watson powers Oz to series win
7 Feb 2013 2:10 AM GMT
Shane Watson hit a century on his return from injury and James Faulkner claimed four wickets as Australia beat the West Indies by 39 runs to claim victory in the one-day international series on Wednesday.
Watson, opening the innings after four weeks out with a calf injury, smashed 122 off 111 balls. Supported by 86 from Phil Hughes, he helped Australia reach 329 for seven after winning the toss in the third ODI of the five-game series.
The home side then dismissed the West Indies for 290 off 47.3 overs with left-arm medium pacer Faulkner claiming four for 48 -- all bowled, to achieve another emphatic victory after wins by nine wickets and 54 runs in Perth.
Watson reached his seventh ODI century off 102 balls and then set about Kemar Roach, clubbing a huge six, logged at 114 metres (374 feet), into the stands. This was followed by a four as he threatened to go on for a big ton on the bat-friendly Manuka Oval pitch. But two balls later Watson holed out to Kieron Pollard, one of four catches to the athletic West Indian, top-edging to deep backward square leg as he went after Roach's second-last ball of his eighth over.
It was a welcome return to form for Watson before this month's four-Test tour to India. ‘I've been looking forward to that for the last four weeks, to get out there on a nice wicket and get a few runs out of the middle,’ Watson said.
‘It's one of those days that you dream of that everything even from the first ball just feels like it's coming off the middle of your bat. It was a beautiful wicket out there, it was very true, so you knew if you hit through the line of the ball you had more chance of finding the middle of the bat.’
Hughes, who gave away a chance cutting through slip on six, lost the opportunity to make his third ODI century this season when he was caught behind off Darren Sammy for 86. He scored his runs off 93 balls with 10 fours and a six. The West Indies would have had to make history to overhaul the Australian total, with their biggest previous ODI run chase 324 for eight against India at Nagpur in 2006-07.
Watson, opening the innings after four weeks out with a calf injury, smashed 122 off 111 balls. Supported by 86 from Phil Hughes, he helped Australia reach 329 for seven after winning the toss in the third ODI of the five-game series.
The home side then dismissed the West Indies for 290 off 47.3 overs with left-arm medium pacer Faulkner claiming four for 48 -- all bowled, to achieve another emphatic victory after wins by nine wickets and 54 runs in Perth.
Watson reached his seventh ODI century off 102 balls and then set about Kemar Roach, clubbing a huge six, logged at 114 metres (374 feet), into the stands. This was followed by a four as he threatened to go on for a big ton on the bat-friendly Manuka Oval pitch. But two balls later Watson holed out to Kieron Pollard, one of four catches to the athletic West Indian, top-edging to deep backward square leg as he went after Roach's second-last ball of his eighth over.
It was a welcome return to form for Watson before this month's four-Test tour to India. ‘I've been looking forward to that for the last four weeks, to get out there on a nice wicket and get a few runs out of the middle,’ Watson said.
‘It's one of those days that you dream of that everything even from the first ball just feels like it's coming off the middle of your bat. It was a beautiful wicket out there, it was very true, so you knew if you hit through the line of the ball you had more chance of finding the middle of the bat.’
Hughes, who gave away a chance cutting through slip on six, lost the opportunity to make his third ODI century this season when he was caught behind off Darren Sammy for 86. He scored his runs off 93 balls with 10 fours and a six. The West Indies would have had to make history to overhaul the Australian total, with their biggest previous ODI run chase 324 for eight against India at Nagpur in 2006-07.
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