Lara praises Sammy

Cricket legend Brian Lara says his decision in the past to select Darren Sammy as a member of the West Indies team was based more on the player’s passion for the game and his dependability than cricketing ability.

Lara has revealed that Sammy was one of the last two players he decided to select in a 14-man squad after ignoring suggestions to pick two other players whom he claimed were ill disciplined.
“I remember picking Darren Sammy; not for his cricketing ability, but for the way he carried about himself,” said Lara, the former West Indies captain.
“We were going to play in a tournament in England and we had 14 players to pick and after 12 the two players they were asking for I didn’t want on the team, because they weren’t going to play, but I knew they were going to be very destructive.”
Lara was responding to questions from young participants at Monday’s start of a four-day symposium at the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre in Port of Spain.
The batting great says his decision to select the St. Lucian all-rounder, the current West Indies captain, was also because he could be relied on.
“And I remember picking Darren Sammy and a guy called Sylvester Joseph,” recalled Lara.
“Darren Sammy at no point in time would have considered himself to be a future leader of West Indies cricket. He was someone who you could depend on.”
Sammy has been leading the West Indies team at a crucial time as it struggles to regain its once held status as a world beater.
His captaincy has come under intense scrutiny although he has been credited with uniting the squad which became World T20 champions in St. Lanka last year.
“He’s going to ensure he does what is necessary for the team to be successful. That is the way how a follower can actually help a leader, by being part of a team and willing make sure that everyone is moving in the right direction,” said Lara.

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‘Pakistan’s tour on’

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has brushed aside media reports suggesting that Pakistan’s tour of the Caribbean this year is in jeopardy.
A WICB statement released Monday says the board remains optimistic that the tour will take place in July as planned and says negotiations are still being held to finalise plans.
A report said the tour is unlikely to take place after the WICB and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) failed to find a new window.
“In light of recent media reports emanating from the Asian subcontinent, the West Indies Cricket Board wishes to advise the media and the public that negotiations with the Pakistan Cricket Board are ongoing with regard to finalising the schedule for the West Indies vs Pakistan series to be held in the Caribbean in July,” the statement said.
“The WICB remains optimistic that the tour will proceed once arrangements are concluded, and further, the WICB look forward to the much anticipated visit of the Pakistan cricket team as indeed all cricket-loving fans of the Caribbean do.”
According to the FTP (Future Tours Programme), the West Indies were scheduled to host Pakistan from the last week in June to the last week in July, but a tri-series involving India, Sri Lanka and West Indies have since been planned.
Pakistan was originally scheduled to play two Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20s.
To avoid a clash, the WICB is reported to have asked the PCB to reschedule its tour to August but this change would have interfered with Pakistan’s own plan to host India and to play out the Zimbabwe series that was postponed last year.
Also, the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is scheduled to take place from July 29 to August 26.
“The WICB wishes to assure the players, the fans and the wider public that it views in the highest regard its ICC Future Tours Programme commitments [which includes the Pakistan tour of the Caribbean] and will fulfil all such commitments to the mutual convenience of the players and teams involved and for the benefit and enjoyment of fans,” the statement said.

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Russell confident of filling void left by KP, Ryder

Keen on proving himself, Andre Russell, the Delhi all-rounder, expressed hope to fill in the void left by the big hitting duo of Kevin Pietersen and Jesse Ryder in T20-League-6. Delhi are going to play the T20-League inaugural match against Kolkata on Wednesday. "Hopefully I will fit into that slot and contribute in all the three different areas -- batting, bowling and fielding. We have to be like individuals who can fill in the gap," said Russell who is in Kolkata currently preparing for the first game.

Last season Russell only played four matches including the Eliminator which ended Delhi's chances of going ahead by losing out to eventual winners Kolkata after a solid league stage display.

When asked whether they were considering this T20-League opener as a revenge match, the Jamaican replied, "It's 2013, and we can't think about the past (2012). T20 is a very unpredictable format. Any team can dominate on a given day. This year, it's a different ballgame and things look good for us. We'll just try to do our best."

Confident of starting on a new note, the tall all-rounder said, "The target is to play as many matches as possible for my team. I am sure of playing a good role for the side. I've had some decent performances which give me a good confidence. T20 is a format that requires to play some big hits lower down the order. I'm happy to play that role for my team."

He also had a word of caution against fellow Windies spinner Sunil Narine who played a big role in Kolkata's T20-League-5 triumph. "He is really difficult to play. In Caribbean conditions, he always bowls well. You can't really play big shots to him. You don't know which way the ball is going to turn from his action," said Russell. "It is very important not to lose wickets. It will be easier if you are 1/30 from him than losing four wickets. You can always take on other bowlers to bridge the gap."

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Shillingford leads WI to new Zimbabwe rout

Spinner Shane Shillingford claimed his second 10-wicket haul at Windsor Park in less than a year as the West Indies cruised to a crushing innings and 65-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second Test Friday.

Facing a huge deficit of 206 runs after skipper Darren Sammy declared his team’s first innings at the overnight position of 381 for eight, the visitors were brushed aside for 141 in their second turn at the crease in less than 43 overs.
Shillingford claimed five for 34 to finish with match figures of 10 for 93 as the home side wrapped up the game on the afternoon of the third day.
He was the unanimous choice as both man of the match and man of the series following on his figures of nine for 107 in the first Test in Barbados.
By taking 19 wickets in the brief series, the off-spinner shattered the West Indies record for the most wickets in a two-test series, 16, which was set by former fast bowler Courtney Walsh in New Zealand in 1995.
He also became only the eighth Caribbean cricketer to capture 10 wickets in a Test match on two or more occasions.
All of those landmarks were celebrated with gusto by his home fans, even as the hapless Zimbabweans capitulated.
‘It’s a wonderful feeling to be enjoying this success and being mentioned among some of our former greats,’ said Shillingford.
‘There was a bit of pressure of expectation on me coming into the match, but once we got on the field all of that was put aside and everything fell into place for me and the team.’
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy was delighted by Shillingford’s efforts.
‘Shane’s performance here has been tremendous but throughout the games different people have been called upon and they executed properly,’ said Sammy.
West Indies also won the three one-day internationals as well as the two Twenty20 matches against a hapless and outclassed Zimbabwe.
‘It’s been massively disappointing and we’ve been taught a lesson. It hurts,’ said Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor.
‘A lot of us need to go home and have a good think, we need to improve.’
Although most of the glory went to Shillingford, it was Marlon Samuels who put the seal on the West Indies’ sixth consecutive Test match victory with the wickets of Kyle Jarvis and Tendai Chatara off consecutive deliveries.
The part-time slow bowler also enjoyed his best match and series figures, his analysis of three for 35 in the final innings giving him six wickets in the match and 10 over the two Tests.

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Shillingford, Gayle put WI on top

Zimbabwe crumbled yet again to the spin of Shane Shillingford as the West Indies reached a commanding position at the close of the first day of the second and final Test at Windsor Park here on Wednesday.
Playing in front of his home fans, Shillingford followed up his nine-wicket match haul from the first Test in Barbados the previous week with a haul of five for 59.
Marlon Samuels, who claimed his best Test innings figures of four for 13 on the opening day at Kensington Oval, snared three for 15 to bundle out Zimbabwe for just 175.
Kyle Jarvis removed Kieran Powell and Darren Bravo in quick succession when the home side replied, but Chris Gayle (61 not out) and Marlon Samuels (26 not out) reasserted the West Indies dominance in an unbroken 79-run third-wicket stand that took their team to the close at 114 for two.
It leaves the Zimbabweans needing a performance that has been beyond them in recent years in winning the Test to square the series.
In stark contrast to their parlous position however, the day started promisingly for the Zimbabweans after they were inserted by West Indies captain Darren Sammy with openers Vusi Sibanda and Tino Mawoyo putting on 42 at better than a run-a-minute before the introduction of Shannon Gabriel shifted the tide of play completely.
Mawoyo was bowled offering no shot and the burly fast bowler then removed Sibanda, who had hammered three consecutive fours off Kemar Roach, the attacking player tamely stroking a full toss low to Roach at mid-on.
From that point on, the visitors struggled to get back on an even keel, Brendan Taylor’s topscore of 33 being the captain’s best effort of a disappointing tour while debutant Sean Williams showed a bit of character in getting to 31.
Yet none were able to cope with the extravagant bounce and turn extracted by Shillingford especially from the surface, the local boy delivering almost immediately as he was brought on when his “doosra” disposed of Hamilton Masakadza before lunch.
An injudicious attempt at a reverse sweep by Taylor off the same bowler in the afternoon brought about his demise.
Despite some patient resistance by Craig Ervine and Williams, Ervine’s dismissal by Samuels — playing down the wrong line to a straight delivery — triggered a slide that saw the last six wickets capitulating for 34 runs.
Faced with another daunting task after this latest batting failure, Zimbabwe enjoyed a glimmer of hope through Jarvis’ double-strike with the West Indies score on 35.
But the optimism was to be short-lived, Gayle overcoming an uncertain start to reach his first Test half-century in eight innings while Samuels looked as fluent and as threatening as ever heading into the second day of a match that already seems to be out of the reach of the Zimbabweans.

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Shillingford aims to weave more magic

Tall spinner Shane Shillingford returns home to Dominica hoping to continue his heroics as the West Indies chase a sixth successive Test victory when they take on Zimbabwe, starting on Wednesday.

Shillingford was man-of-the-match after taking nine wickets in last week's easy triumph in the first Test in Bridgetown, Barbados.

West Indies won by nine wickets in two-and-a-half days as spin bowling proved a surprise catalyst for success at the Kensington Oval.

It will be no surprise if the 30-year-old Shillingford, recalled to the Test side last week, wreaks havoc at Windsor Park in Roseau, his home ground.

He got 10 wickets there last April against Australia and says he wants similar success against the inexperienced Zimbabweans.

"Hopefully I will get a good return again," he said in a television interview on the eve of the second of the two-Test series.

West Indies coach Otis Gibson called Shillingford's role in the first Test exceptional, saying: "We expect the same again in Dominica. The spin department is strong right now. We have four or five quality spinners to choose from."

For the home side in the second test, scheduled to run through to Sunday, Gibson said there would be more focus on batting.

"One of our plans as a batting group is to try and bat 140 to 150 overs in an innings. (In Bridgetown), we got bowled out in a day; that wasn't the best for us," he told the official West Indies cricket website.

West Indies last got six Test wins in a row in 1988 but their latest achievement is still far from the halcyon days of calypso cricket three decades ago.

Their latest streak is made up of two wins over New Zealand last July, success in a two-match series in Bangladesh, followed by the easy win over Zimbabwe, who were playing their first Test in 14 months.

The inexperienced Zimbabwe will give wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva a late fitness test as he recovers from a finger injury. If he fails, captain Brendan Taylor will return to behind the stumps with batsman Sean Williams likely given a chance in the middle order.

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Ponting signs up for CPL

The 38-year-old, who retired from international cricket in December, will appear for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and then move on to English county side Surrey for the first two months of the
season before heading to the Caribbean in late July.

In 168 Tests Ponting scored 13,378 Test runs, another 13,704 runs in 375 ODIs and 401 runs in 17 T20 internationals.

"The West Indies has always been one of my favourite cricket destinations," said Ponting.

"The mix of entertainment and cricket is the perfect recipe for West Indian cricket fans as well as the rest of the world."

Ponting will not find out which of the six sides - Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago - he will play for until May's draft.

Also confirmed alongside Ponting are the six West Indies franchise players for the tournament: Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard and Marlon Samuels.

The CPL will contract a total of 90 players, with each franchise team selecting 15 players. Just like the IPL, there are quotas regarding players playing under a certain age, and how many international players a team can field at one time.

Each team can field a maximum of four international players, and must have at least four players under the age of 23, with the rest of the squad comprising of local regional players.

The CPL is scheduled to take place from July 29 to August 26.

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Easy win for West Indies

Shillingford took four wickets in an extended first session as the tourists crumbled to 107 all out in their second innings, leaving the home side to knock off 12 runs to clinch a fifth successive Test victory.

West Indies went 1-0 up in the two-match series with the second Test in Dominica next week.

The 30-year-old Shillingford, recalled to the Test arena after struggling in England last year, completed match-figures of nine for 107, using his height to get good bounce on a turning wicket.

"I tried to get a consistent line first up and then try and spin the ball as much as possible at regular pace and put it in good areas," he said as he accepted the man-of-the-match award.

Zimbabwe, in trouble at 41 for three overnight, lost captain Brendan Taylor in the first over and nightwatchman Ray Price four ball later to start a rapid capitulation.

Taylor pushed a ball to short leg to be caught for just six runs and Price had his middle stump upended by pace man Kemar Roach.

Malcolm Waller followed seven overs later, having survived a dropped catch by Chris Gayle off Shillingford, when he prodded on the back foot to the tall spinner and offered Kieran Powell his fifth catch of the match at short leg.

A straight ball bowled Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva for six and Denesh Ramdin took a sharp catch behind the stumps to dismiss Graeme Cremer and give Shillingford figures of 6-49.

Zimbabwe showed glimpses of competitiveness in the morning on the first two days but their lack of test cricket was exposed.

"There were not a lot of positives for us to take out of the game. It was tough," said Taylor, whose side were playing their first test in 14 months.

West Indies, needing 12 runs for victory, lost Kieran Powell cheaply before lunch but Chris Gayle and Darren Bravo took the hosts to their target shortly after the interval.

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Narine dropped, Samuels recalled

West Indies spinner Sunil Narine has been dropped for the first Test against Zimbabwe that starts in Barbados on Tuesday.

 

Shane Shillingford has been called up as a replacement.

Narine, along with Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul and Kirk Edwards, find themselves on the sidelines, as Shillingford and Shannon Gabriel get a call-up, while Marlon Samuels is back in the side after injury.

Samuels has been out of the set-up for two months after being struck in the face by a Lasith Malinga bouncer while playing in the Big Bash League.

Narine's drop can be explained by his poor series against Bangladesh, where he took only three wickets in two Tests. Veerasammy Permaul has since stepped up as the more effective spinner.

SQUAD:

Darren Sammy (capt), Denesh Ramdin (wk and vice-capt), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Veerasammy Permaul, Kieron Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels and Shane Shillingford.

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Windies complete Zimbabwe sweep

West Indies swept their one-day international series against Zimbabwe 3-0 on Tuesday after making comparatively heavy weather of what should have been a leisurely pursuit of 212 before reaching their target for the loss of five wickets.

Darren Bravo's unbeaten 72 piloted the home team to victory, the left-hander earning both the player-of-the-match and player-of-the-series awards following on his maiden ODI hundred in the first match on Friday.
Kieran Powell contributed 42 at the top of the order while the effort of young wrist-spinners Natsai M'Shangwe and debutant Tinotenda Mutombodzi
offered some encouragement for the Zimbabweans ahead of the two T20
fixtures to be played at the weekend in Antigua.
Mutombodzi removed Ramnaresh Sarwan caught-and-bowled with just his third delivery in senior international cricket and also accounted for Powell to a catch at long-on.
There were a few moments of anxiety for the West Indies when the dismissal of Narsingh Deonarine by Hamilton Masakadza was followed by the running out of Kieron Pollard for a duck without facing a ball to leave the home side at 121 for four.
Skipper Dwayne Bravo steadied the innings in partnership with his younger brother and it was left to wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin to accompany Darren Bravo at the crease when the winning runs were struck, the captain falling to Kyle Jarvis with the result virtually assured.
Disciplined work by the West Indies in the field had restricted Zimbabwe to 211 for nine after the visitors chose to bat first again.
The home side's bowlers kept wayward deliveries to a minimum and reaped the reward against the Zimbabweans, a couple of whom got decent starts but weren't able to carry on as occurred in the second ODI on Sunday when three got past the 50-run mark.
Chamu Chibhabha, strangely demoted to number seven in the order, gave the innings some respectability with an unbeaten 48, his side's top score.

SCORES IN BRIEF
ZIMBABWE: 211 for 9 in 50 overs (Chibhabha 48 not out, Sibanda 41, Taylor 39; Permaul 3-40, Best 2-38, Dwayne Bravo 2-58)
WEST INDIES: 215 for 5 in 46.2 overs (Darren Bravo 72 not out, Powell 42, Dwayne Bravo 25; Mutombodzi 2-35)

Result: West Indies won by 5 wickets and clinch the 3-ODI series 3-0.

Player-of-the-match: Darren Bravo.
Player-of-the-series: Darren Bravo.

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Sarwan ton secures ODI series win for West Indies

Ramnaresh Sarwan capitalised on an outrageous bit of good fortune to hit his first one-day century for three years and guide the West Indies to a series-clinching seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Responding to Zimbabwe's challenging total of 273 for eight, the 32-year-old Guyanese right-hander put aside the torment of a short tour of Australia earlier in the month and finally stamped his return to the international scene with an unbeaten 120 -- his fifth and highest ODI score.
It could have all gone so very differently however as he benefited from an umpiring error while the Zimbabweans also missed the opportunity to have the decision overturned which would have seen Sarwan run out for 53.
Sarwan's generous slice of luck came as he dashed for a single and Chamu Chibhabha's throw to the non-striker's end hit the stumps directly.
Presiding umpire Peter Nero ruled "not out" on the appeal, choosing -- against general convention -- not to seek confirmation of the decision from the television umpire.
TV replays showed Sarwan to be well out of his ground when the bails were removed, and although it was reason for justifiable anguish for the Zimbabweans, they failed to exercise their right of referral via the same television technology before the next ball was bowled.
SCORES IN BRIEF
ZIMBABWE: 273 for 8 in 50 overs (Ervine 80, Masakadza 60, Sibanda 51, Waller 26; Dwayne Bravo 6-43)
WEST INDIES: 274 for 3 in 49 overs (Sarwan 120 not out, Powell 57, Deonarine 42, Pollard 41 not out; Masakadza 2-27)
Result: West Indies won by 7 wickets.
Player-of-the-match: Dwayne Bravo.

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W.Indies vs Zimbabwe, Sammy given rest, Gayle allowed rest

West Indies captain Darren Sammy and big-hitting opener Chris Gayle have been left out of the squad to face Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series which starts on Friday.
Sammy is rested after playing every match for the West Indies in the past two years with Dwayne Bravo taking over the captaincy.

"Gayle has asked to miss the ODI Series and has been granted permission accordingly," said a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) statement.

No reason was given for Gayle's decision to skip the series.

The West Indies endured a disappointing tour of Australia which ended last week.

SQUAD
 Dwayne Bravo (captain), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Narsingh Deonarine, Sunil Narine, Veerasammy Permaul, Kieron Pollard, Kieran Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Ramnaresh Sarwan.

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Windies, Australia in women’s World Cup final

The West Indies stunned mighty Australia by eight runs on Wednesday to enter their first women’s World Cup final, a result that knocked out defending champions England.

The West Indies and Australia topped the Super Sixes table with eight points each, while England can finish with only six points even if they defeat New Zealand in their last match later on Wednesday.

The West Indies, who were shot out for 164, hit back to dismiss Australia for 156 in 48.2 overs in a dramatic finish in Mumbai, with left-arm seamer Shanel Daley claiming three for 22 in 9.2 overs.

Off-spinner Stafanie Taylor took two for 26 as the Australian women collapsed spectacularly with Alex Blackwell playing a lone hand of 45.

The upset win was set up by Deandra Dottin, who smashed one six and 10 fours in her 67-ball 60 that lifted the West Indies to a challenging total.

It was Australia’s first defeat in the tournament, but the five-time champions will get a chance to avenge the loss when they clash with the West Indies in Sunday’s final in Mumbai.

In another match, South Africa registered their first win in the Super Sixes round when they beat Sri Lanka by 110 runs in Cuttack. Both teams finished with two points each.

Sri Lanka, chasing a 228-run target, were bowled out for 117 in 36.4 overs.

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Finally a win for WI

The West Indies ended their disappointing tour of Australia with a morale-boosting 27-run win over Australia in a one-off T20 International on Wednesday.
After losing all five one-day internationals and a warm-up game against the Prime Minister's XI, the T20 world champions cruised to an easy win against a below-strength home side.
The West Indies romped to 191 for six in their 20 overs, then restricted Australia to 164 for eight on a perfect batting strip.
Australia, whose five-man pace attack was badly exposed by the West Indies batsmen, started brilliantly.
But they were reined in by the off-spin of Sunil Narine and the run outs of Sean Marsh (21) and Adam Voges (51) when both were in full flight.
Voges and Marsh put on 74 at better than a run a ball until they were run out within three runs of each other.
Narine, who finished with 2-19 from his four overs, then chipped in with the key wicket of Australian skipper George Bailey (15) to put the hosts under intense pressure.
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (22) and debutant Ben Rohrer (16) threatened briefly, but the asking rate was too much and the innings fell away towards the end.
Earlier West Indies opener Johnson Charles scored a blistering 57 off just 35 balls as the visitors dominated the Australian attack.
Charles took control after fellow opener Chris Gayle (8) failed once again, and hit seven fours and a six in a sparkling innings.
Any thoughts Australia had of keeping the West Indies under control after Gayle's early departure were soon ended by a brilliant partnership between Charles and Darren Bravo.
They added 88 in quick time before Johnson played on to Nathan Coulter-Nile.
Bravo followed soon after when he was run out for 32 following a dreadful mix-up with Kieron Pollard, which left both batsmen stranded at the non-striker's end.
Pollard was looking dangerous until he miscued a drive off Faulkner and holed out to Marsh at long on for 26, with Dwayne Bravo (13) clean bowled two balls later.
But Darren Sammy (20) and Andre Russell (23 not out) took the Australian attack apart, smashing 35 runs off the last two overs.
Left-armer James Faulkner was the pick of the attack, with 3-28 from his four overs, but the other four seamers were all expensive on a flat batting track.
SCORES IN BRIEF
WEST INDIES: 191 for 6 in 20 overs (Charles 57, Darren 32, Pollard 26, Dwayne 13, Russell 23 not out, Sammy 20; Faulkner 3-28)
AUSTRALIA: 164 for 8 in 20 overs (Marsh 21, Voges 51, Bailey 15, Rohrer 16, Haddin 22, Coulter-Nile 16 not out; Narine 2-19, Pollard 3-30)
Result: West Indies won by 27 runs.
Player-of-the-match: Kieron Pollard.

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Aussie complete WI series sweep

Australia bowled out West Indies for 257 to secure a 17-run victory and a 5-0 whitewash in their one-day international series on Sunday, thanks to a century from stand-in Adam Voges.

The tourists had looked on target to chase down a 275-run target at the MCG when Johnson Charles struck his maiden century to match Voges, who scored a magnificent unbeaten 112.

The West Indian opener struck a boundary to bring up his 100 off 120 balls, including eight fours and a six.

But he fell next ball, caught by Ben Cutting at square leg playing a poor shot to Clint McKay. He had ridden his luck, surviving two dropped catches and two television reviews.

After that wickets fell regularly as the required run rate soared and the West Indies were forced to hit out.

Captain Darren Sammy had a late chance to guide the tourists to the target but he was caught behind by Brad Hadddin off McKay for 23 off 18 balls.

West Indies still needed 18 runs off five balls and it proved too much.

Opener Kieran Powell had been the first to go, caught in the slips by Aaron Finch off paceman Mitchell Johnson for just two.

Darren Bravo managed 33 in a partnership of 106 with Charles before all-rounder James Faulkner held a fine low catch off Xavier Doherty’s finger spin.

Brother Dwayne had made 13 when Johnson clean-bowled him with a late inswinger.
After Charles went, Narsingh Deonarine was out for four, caught Haddin bowled Cutting. Devon Thomas smashed 19 off 18 balls but was run out by Shaun Marsh.
Big-hitting Kieron Pollard holed out for 45, caught by Finch at long on off Faulkner.
Voges, batting at number five, had earlier steadied the Australian innings after a disastrous start and went on to complete his ton off 98 balls.

The 33-year-old was only drafted into the side on Friday to replace the injured George Bailey, but he played the star role despite being a fringe player in the six years since he made his debut.

West Indies had the home side at 2 for 2 wickets, but they let Australia off the hook and went for 100 runs in the final 10 overs.

When Voges came in they were three for 63 and a high total looked unlikely with skipper Michael Clarke also on the injured list following more hamstring trouble. But only two more wickets fell.

Voges cracked a six to bring up a 100 partnership with fellow veteran Brad Haddin.
Haddin skied a top edge off Kemar Roach to Kieran Powell in the deep when he had made 43 off 45 balls out of a partnership of 111 with Voges.

Faulkner accompanied Voges through the final overs, adding a quickfire 31 off 24 balls. The pair put on 81 runs from 51 balls.

West Indies had looked in control in the opening stages when Best bowled Watson first ball.

Finch then top-edged a Best bouncer to Narine at fine leg on the boundary in the third over for just one run.

Shaun Marsh, in for Clarke, found the first boundary in the fifth over.
Phillip Hughes patiently built a partnership of 61 with Marsh before Dwayne Bravo had him caught for 29 off 61 balls.

Pollard took the freak leaping catch at backward point, knocking the ball into the air with an outstretched left hand and holding it easily at second bite.

Keeper Devon Thomas snapped up Marsh, who had reached 40 off 58 balls and was looking set at the start of the 25th over. It was Dwayne Bravo’s 150th ODI wicket, the third quickest West Indian to the milestone.

Match Summary:
Australia 274/5 (Voges 112*) beat West Indies 257 ALL OUT (Charles 100, Johnson 3-50, McKay 3-52) by 17 runs

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Pollard century fails to prevent easy Aussie win

Australia maintained their dominance over the West Indies cruising to a five-wicket victory to lead their one-day international series 4-0 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

Only a belligerent unbeaten century from man-of-the-match Kieron Pollard gave the West Indies a respectable score of 220 after they were 55 for six at one stage.

But it was easily run down by the Australians, who secured victory with 31 balls to spare and will now go after a series clean sweep in Melbourne on Sunday.

If not for Pollard's 109 off 136 balls it would have been an even more emphatic victory for Michael Clarke's team who always had control of the run chase under lights.

Shane Watson followed up his 122 in Wednesday's 39-run series-clinching win in Canberra with 76 off 84 balls and skipper Clarke hit 37 off 65 balls before he was out gloving down the leg-side to express bowler Tino Best with the scores level.

Glen Maxwell came in and hit the winning run with Matthew Wade not out 13.

Mitchell Johnson ripped into the West Indies top order removing Johnson Charles (0) Kieran Powell (9) and Darren Bravo (4) to have the tourists wobbling at 17 for three.

Bravo's brother, Dwayne, lasted eight balls for his three before he was given out leg before wicket to Maxwell on review.

Johnson finished with three for 36 off his 10 overs and Cutting captured three for 45 off 10.

Finch made 25 before he was dismissed in the 10th over of the Australian innings leg before wicket to spinner Narine.

Watson and Phillip Hughes put on 62 for the second wicket before Hughes was caught at slip off the back of his glove for 23 as he tried to lap sweep Narine.

Best finished with two for 38 and Narine two for 34.

Australia 5/221 (Watson 76) beat West Indies 220 (Pollard 109*, Johnson 3-36,Cutting 3-45) by five wickets

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Huge win for Tigers

Bangladesh notched up their 73rd One Day International victory as they comprehensively beat the West Indies by 7 wickets in the first match of the five-match series in Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, Khulna on Friday.

Having bowled the visitors out for 199, the Tigers chased down 200 with more than nine overs to spare at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium.

Bangladesh scored 201 for three after 40.2 overs.

Debutant spinner Shohag Gazi sparkled with a four-wicket haul to be named the man of the match.

Tamim Iqbal's half-century had given Bangladesh a flying start, but he fell to Sunil Narine with the score on 88. Anamul Haque (41) followed soon.

Earlier, spinners had restricted West Indies with Abdur Razzak, left out in the Test series, taking three wickets.

Mashrafee Mortuza and Mahmudullah Riyad took one wicket each.

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New ODI rules tough on spinners: Sammy

West Indies captain Darren Sammy reckons the new fielding restrictions in one-dayers make life difficult for the spinners but does not think the move targets only the Asian teams who build their attack primarily around slow bowlers.

West Indies play first of their five one-dayers against Bangladesh on Friday under the new rules which allow a maximum of four fielders outside the 30-yard circle during the non-powerplay overs.
Previously, one more fielder was allowed outside the circle which helped the spinners bowl with more fielders in the deep.

"It is becoming more of a batsman's game," Sammy said at news conference on Thursday.

"Teams were scoring 300-plus with five guys outside the circle. Now it is only four.

"I feel sorry for the spinners, they have to find an extra way to bowl and be economical."

Sammy, however, brushed aside suggestions that the new rules target the Asian teams who rely more on their slow bowlers.

"The rules are the same for every team," said the all-rounder.

"It is not the first time rules have changed, it won't be the last time. We have to enjoy the game we love, playing cricket," he said.

His Bangladesh counterpart Mushfiqur Rahim said pace bowlers would also suffer.

"It's made the job very difficult for spinners. At the same time when you have five fielders up, it's difficult for the pace bowlers also."

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Shakib-less Tigers switch to ODI mode

Bangladesh will be hoping to salvage some pride when they play West Indies in the first one-day international in Khulna on Friday.

The Tigers will, however, go into the 50-over game minus their champion all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is nursing a shin injury. It will be the first instance that the Tigers play an ODI without him since the 2008 Asia Cup in Pakistan.

Shakib's place in the squad has gone to Cox's Bazar lad Mominul Haque.

The 21-year-old Mominul is a left-handed batsman who has been among the runs in the recent National Cricket League. The Chittagong Divisional player has struck two first-class centuries.

Considered as an exciting prospect, Mominul has featured regularly in the Bangladesh A team over the last two years after coming up the ranks through various age-group tournaments.

Shakib's absence will mean all-rounder Mahmudullah, who performed admirably in the two Tests with the bat, will have to assume a greater responsibility along with young off-spinner Shohag Gazi.

Bangladesh are likely to pick two spinners and two fast bowlers but given Abul Hasan's batting exploits in the last Test, he could find himself in the line-up.

Mominul is still a 50-50 call for the team but Sohag and Anamul Haque are more likely to make limited-overs debuts.

The Caribbeans after completing a 2-0 Test series victory, are brimming with confidence. They signalled their intentions with a convincing 118-run win on Wednesday against the BCB XI in a warm-up at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium.

Key players will be Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. Gayle in particular will be hoping to get his eye in again after a disappointing Test series, where he didn't make a score over 25 in four innings.

West Indies will be without fast bowler Tino Best, who tormented the Tigers in the Tests, taking a five-fer and a six-fer in the series. But he picked up a hamstring injury and has flown home to Barbados, giving uncapped quick Jason Holder a call-up.

During their last tour of Bangladesh in 2011, the tourists won the ODI series 2-1 after victories in Dhaka but conceded a shock defeat in Chittagong.

The second of the five-game series is also in Khulna on Sunday.

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Shakib ruled out of first 2 ODIs

 Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been ruled out of the first two one-day internationals against West Indies with a shin injury, team officials said on Sunday.

 
Shakib had an MRI scan on his right tibia bone in Khulna on Saturday after the close of fourth day's play.

 
"We have decided that he will take no further part in the second Test match and will miss the two ODIs in Khulna," physio Vibhav Singh said in statement.

 
"We will review his scan report with an orthopaedic specialist in Dhaka to decide the best management plan for Shakib.

 
The first two ODIs of the five-match series will be held in Khulna on Nov 30 and Dec 2.

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