July 05, 2008

AUSTRALIA have claimed an incredible one-run victory in the fourth one-day international against West Indies at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts.

Australia set their hosts 283 for victory, and the Windies seemed certain to end their miserable run of losses after a superb run-a-ball 92 from skipper Chris Gayle at the top of the order.

But the home team choked in the final three overs, scoring just 11 runs while losing two wickets - including that of Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 51 - to suffer the most agonising of defeats.

Shane Watson conceded just six runs from the final over as Australia claimed victory for stand-in captain Michael Clarke victory in his first game in charge as one-day skipper.

Australia now hold a 4-0 lead in the five-match series, with a series sweep very much on the cards in the final match on Sunday.

Australia, sent in to bat, were paced by Andrew Symonds, who bashed a belligerent 87 as the tourists made 8-282 from 50 overs.

Symonds added 127 for the fifth wicket with David Hussey as Australia piled on 93 runs in the final 10 overs to set an imposing target on the small ground.

Symonds struck 10 fours and two sixes in his 78-ball innings, mixing both power and finesse by smacking two massive sixes straight down the ground and then unveiling a clever reverse-sweep boundary off spinner Nikita Miller using the back of his bat.

While nowhere near as spectacular, Hussey was equally effective with the bat, scoring at a run a ball to post a half-century on debut, despite being unable to raise his bat with the scoreboard incorrectly showing 49 when he was dismissed.

Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan then looked to have the Windies cruising to victory with their 137-run second wicket stand.

But the Windies, despite seeming to be in control all the way through their run chase, somehow found themselves needing eight runs to win from the final over, with wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and Darren Sammy at the crease.

Watson was given the ball by Clarke and he held his nerve brilliantly, conceding just a single from each ball to leave the Windies 6-281 at the end of 50 overs.

Brett Lee took 3-64 - including the wicket of Shawn Findlay to an amazing one-handed diving catch by Michael Hussey - with Mitchell Johnson going wicketless but proving the most economical bowler of the day.