Sport
West Indies falls to Australia in narrow 17 run difference in 5th ODI
George Bailey of Australia plays down leg-side during game two of the Commonwealth Bank One Day International Series between Australia and the West Indies at WACA on February 3, 2013. PHOTO/Will Russell/Getty Images
(Reuters) -Adam Voges scored his maiden one-day international century as a depleted Australia secured a 5-0 series win by beating West Indies by 17 runs in the final match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
The 33-year-old middle order batsman blasted an unbeaten 112 off 106 balls to propel Australia to a commanding total of 274 for five, before the tourists’ promising chase stumbled in the final overs with late wickets.
Johnson Charles, who replaced injured opener Chris Gayle, also scored a maiden One Day International (ODI) ton to give West Indies hope of hauling in the total, but the innings quickly petered out when allrounder James Faulkner had the hard-hitting Kieron Pollard caught for 45.
That left the West Indies at 234-7, still needing 41 with less than four overs to spare, and seamer Clint McKay wrapped up the match on the second last ball when tailender Tino Best slogged straight to a man at deep midwicket.
Australia completed the victory without injured captain Michael Clarke and several other first-choice players, who were rested to head over to India early to prepare for a four-test tour.
“They were cruising along pretty much without taking too many risks,” stand-in captain Shane Watson said pitch-side in a television interview. “I think we held them out really well.”
Watson scored a century and half-century to set up victory in the previous two matches, but was bowled for a duck with the first ball of the innings by paceman Best.
