Watson guides Aus to victory
2008-06-30 07:31
St George's - Shane Watson notched his maiden international century as Australia crushed the West Indies by seven wickets in the third one-day international at Grenada's National Stadium.
The win provided Australia with an unassailable 3-0 lead in
the best-of-five limited overs series, making dead rubbers of
the final two matches in St Kitts, scheduled for later this
week.
Save for Fidel Edwards' early dismissal of Shaun Marsh for a duck, the hosts never seemed close to defending their total of
223.
Watson and Ricky Ponting posted a 190-run stand, the highest
ever limited overs second-wicket partnership by an Australian
pair in the Caribbean, as the tourists rolled to 227 for three
in 40.3 overs.
Watson's innings of 126 from 122 deliveries was his first
century in any form of international cricket, and came more than
six years after his one-day debut for Australia.
The Queensland all-rounder has suffered a horrendous run of
injuries over the course of his career, and was only called into
the Australian squad as a late replacement for Matthew Hayden.
Commanding victory
Watson raised his century with a boundary through mid-wicket
off the bowling of Chris Gayle.
He was embraced by his captain, Ponting, who was eventually
dismissed by Gayle for 69, though not before he had steered
Australia to the cusp of a commanding victory.
On a slow pitch, Watson displayed patience and poise in the
early stages of his innings before accelerating later.
The right-hander was particularly damaging square of the
wicket, striking sixes over mid-wicket and wide long-on during
his career-best innings. Watson was removed attempting to paddle
Darren Sammy down the leg side in the 37th over.
The home supporters were left disappointed by another
underwhelming performance from the West Indian team.
Among the hosts' bowlers, only Edwards and Dwayne Bravo
threatened for extended periods, and the Windies' energy levels in the field appeared to be lacking, as evidenced by a number of dropped catches and misfields throughout the Australian innings.
- Reuters