The West Indies will have a golden chance to win a series against Australia when the two meet in the fifth and the final ODI at at Gros Islet. We’ll bring you the live scores and commentary of the action starting at 12.30 am AEST on Monday.
Not too many would have predicted this scoreline at the start of the tour. Especially not after Australia took a 1-0 lead, albeit after making heavy weather in the first game.
Then two Kieron Pollard specials pushed West Indies to an unassailable 2-1 lead, leaving the top-ranked Australia staring at an embarrassing ODI series defeat against their lowly eighth-rank.
Pollard’s maturity stands out in those two knocks. Once described by West Indian great, Michael Holding, as a T20 slogger, he has emerged in this series as a viable match-winner number six.
There have been other architects and rather important one at that for the West Indies, those Australia will need solutions against in the fifth game.
Sunil Narine continues to tease, torment and inflict more misery on the Aussies.
At St. Vincent, the track was conducive to his brand of bowling. Not so at Gros Islet. The fourth ODI saw its best batting track and yet, Narine finished with figures of 1/21 in his 10 overs.
Australia did change their line-up around in the fourth game, but unless they can convert their starts into something more substantial, they are not going to be winning anything.
Four of the top five batsmen ended with scores in the 20s, and only David Hussey and Brett Lee gave them a sniff of a chance.
The good news for them was the return of Ben Hilfenhaus, who conceded only 43 in his 10. All others went for 55 in their quota, thanks mainly due to the way the West Indian batsmen slogged their way through in the final few overs.
The Australian batting has been a letdown this entire series and will look to overturn their poor shows in this game. But the other Achilles Heel has been the lack of bowling incision when the going gets tough.
West Indies arrival at the party in this series almost makes them favourite in this fifth ODI. Unless, of course, Australia can bang their way through a serious batting display and show consistency in the bowling for the entire length of 50 overs.
We will bring you the coverage throughout this fifth ODI of the series between West Indies and Australia from Gros Islet and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds from 12.30am AEDT.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That is it from me, this has been an exciting ODI series right from the first game where Australia won easily after being bowled out for 204 at St. Vincent, to losing the second game and tying the third at the same venue. They again lost the fourth game to effectively be shut out of the series but came back well in this game. Now on to the T20Is which start in a couple of days...have a good day!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
This has been a startling comeback from the West Indian side in this game, as at one stage it seemed like the game was dead and done. Chasing 282 for a win, the West Indians were 7/118 in 31 overs and it looked like it was only going to be a matter of time. Then Sammy and Russell exploded and brought up a 100-run stand that seemed to have changed the game before the remaining wickets fell, 30 short. Sammy bashed 84, Russell scored 41 while Lee ended on 3/42. Two wickets apiece for McKay, Watson and Doherty.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT! That is flicked away but it does not go the distance and the catch is taken, much to the relief of a shocked Australian team. Australia have won by 30 runs as Sammy walks back for a 50-ball 84. The series has ended on a 2-2 scoreline.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That's drilled to deep mid-wicket so hard that it could have gone to the fence but Warner fields rather well and restricts West Indies to 1. 31 needed from 3 and Sammy on strike to face Hilfenhaus.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
SIX! That was needed to inject some enthusiasm among the fans and probability into the chase! Slower ball bouncer and it has been spanked away by Sammy over deep square-leg for a six. 32 needed from 19.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Single for Roach now, 38 needed off 21. Sammy at the batting crease.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A single off the second ball and that means Roach's back on strike. 39 from 22 now and it has progressively become tougher...
Fivehole
Guest
Only a matter of time now for Australia
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Roach defends the last three balls of the over and nothing barring a wide there. 40 needed from four overs means that Sammy now may need to take a decision on not to take a single off the first four balls of the over...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Single off the third ball brings Roach back on strike. 41 needed from 27 balls.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! On the middle stump and Sammy flicks it behind the square-leg. The fielder was up at fine-leg and the deep square-leg fielder failed to get there in time.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Shane Watson is on and he starts with a dot. Sammy was lining himself up for a biggie but has to bring his bat down in time...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Well bowled by Lee and he concedes only three singles. 46 required off five overs. With one wicket standing. Sammy hasn't got a boundary for some time now...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A single off the second ball from Lee, 48 needed from 34. Roach will be up against Lee. Expect nothing in Roach's half...yorkers? Probably but most of them short and in his ears.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Brett Lee, who had a tete a tete with Roach when he batted, has been brought back. Three wickets for him so far in his seven overs.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Kemar Roach walks in and Brett Lee will be giving a few mouthfuls to him. Single off the last ball to Sammy, 49 needed from six overs. He needs to take all the strike now.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT! But Narine is gone and West Indies are nine down! It was a slower one from McKay and the batsman tried to flick it away, only managing an edge that went high. Wade takes a good catch. Surely Australia has sealed it here, despite the presence of Sammy, it is 50 needed from 37 balls.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The fours and sixes are dried and the required rate is now rising. 50 needed off 38. Another Sammy assault of two or three overs required...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Only three of the Doherty over, his last of the innings, which means he ends with 2/60 in his 10. 53 needed off 42 and Sammy has a change in bats.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A couple of dots to finish off the over but 7 from it - that is exactly the required rate. West Indies are 8/226, the same score as Australia, who had lost only four wickets at that stage.