17 June, 2008

A brave West Indies fell 88 runs short of what would have been a record run chase in the third Test as Australia wrapped up the series 2-0 in Bridgetown.

Set a massive 475 for victory, the home side amassed 387, the highest fourth-innings total on the ground in surpassing England's 313 in 1954.

But the target proved too great thanks to Stuart Clark claiming three final-day wickets.

The home side had dared to dream of an unlikely victory during the morning session when overnight pair Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo repelled the Australian attack for the opening hour and a half and reduced the deficit to 172 runs with seven wickets in hand.

But when both batsmen fell in consecutive overs 20 minutes before the lunch break, the Windies' hopes were effectively ended.

With their brittle tail exposed the Australians sensed their chance and duly delivered taking the last seven wickets for the addition of 87 runs to ensure they would take the Frank Worrell trophy home with a fourth consecutive series victory against the Windies.

The home side began the day requiring a further 240 runs to claim victory and they were made to toil in the initial stages as the Australians looked to deny them the early initiative.

The metronomic Clark opened the bowling with slow left-armer Michael Clarke and together they formed a stingy combination, allowing just 20 runs in an absorbing opening 50 minutes of play.

When Brett Lee was introduced into the attack it took him just three balls to induce a false stroke from Bravo, who flashed at a ball that left him marginally.

Lee quickly built up a head of steam, hitting Bravo in the ribs and then the gloves in successive balls, but the 24-year-old steadfastly refused to buckle, bringing up his 50 from 133 balls in the next over from Beau Casson.

Bravo then lifted the wrist spinner over the cover boundary from consecutive balls, while Chanderpaul passed 8,000 Test runs - just the fourth West Indies man to do so.

But just as the home side looked to be gaining the upper hand it lost Bravo and Chanderpaul in successive overs.

Casson was first to strike, when Bravo pushed a straightforward catch to Phil Jaques at silly mid-off, bringing to an end a superb 122-run stand.

In the next over Clark, who had just been handed the new ball, had Chanderpaul trapped in front for 50.

It was a key moment in the chase and the first time the Australians had managed to dismiss the Guyanese left-hander since the opening Test in Jamaica. Chanderpaul finished the series with 442 runs at an average of 142.3.

After the lunch break the wickets fell at regular intervals as the home side's resistance weakened.

Clark had Denesh Ramdin leg before wicket for eight, which brought the injured Sewnarine Chattergoon to the crease in a last desperate attempt for victory.

But clearly inhibited by the ankle injury he suffered while attempting a diving stop on the third day, the left-hander could add just 13 before he was caught behind off Lee, just moments after Jerome Taylor (31) snicked one behind off Mitchell Johnson.

Debutant Casson then claimed his third wicket of the innings removing Sulieman Benn (13), before Lee wrapped up the series when Daren Powell (six) nicked a short-pitched ball to Haddin.