Ugly crowd scenes have marred Australia’s comprehensive 84-run victory over the West Indies with fans hurling plastic bottles on the playing field in a bitter ending to today’s game in St Vincent.
Play was suspended for more than 10 minutes with Australia just one wicket from victory after fans reacted angrily to the uncertainty surrounding the dismissal of Darren Sammy.
Sammy had been bowled by Nathan Bracken for 33, but the batsman himself was unsure of the dismissal with the ball only just flicking the stumps.
He waited near the boundary for several moments while it was reviewed by the third umpire.
But with no video screen at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex to show the judgement to the crowd, fans reacted to what they felt was an unjust call by tossing both empty and filled bottles from the stands.
Australia’s players were all huddled mid-pitch by that stage, out of harms way, with photographers and camera operators copping the brunt of the abuse.
Ground staff quickly cleared the bottles from the outfield, with Bracken (4-31) claiming the final wicket of Sulieman Benn to complete the win a few balls later.
Not just marring the game, the crowd’s action also provided a black spot on what had been an emotional game for the Australian team as they honoured the memory of Jane McGrath.
Both teams marked the passing of the 42-year-old with a minute’s silence before play, with the Australian players wearing pink ribbons and batting with pink grips in paying tribute to the late wife of former teammate Glenn McGrath, who lost her 11-year battle with cancer at the weekend.
Australia secured a 1-0 lead in the five-game one-day series after posting 8-273 from 50 overs before dismissing the Windies for 189 inside 40 overs.
Shaun Marsh claimed man of the match honours on debut after scoring 81 at the top of the order, with Michael Hussey (44) and Brad Haddin (50) sharing a 91-run stand to ensure Australia passed 250.
The Windies run chase started dismally with the home side collapsing to 3-29.
From that point, Chris Gayle’s side were never in the hunt, with Dwayne Bravo (33), Andre Fletcher (26) Denesh Ramdin (31) and Sammy (33) at least ensuring they got within three figures.
Gayle and Bravo were perhaps both unlucky to be adjudged lbw by umpire Asad Rauf, but the pair may also be docked at least part of their match fees after lingering at the crease well after the umpire’s decision.
As well as his run-a-ball half century, Haddin also pulled of a quick thinking run out when he flicked the ball out of the back of his glove to catch Fletcher just short of his ground.
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