Australia clinch Barbados thriller by 3 wickets!

Tags: Australia tour of West Indies - 2012, West Indies Vs Australia 1st Test at Barbados - Apr 7-11, 2012, Shane Robert Watson, Ryan James Harris, Narsingh Deonarine

Published on: Apr 11, 2012

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

Australia defeated West Indies by 3 wickets in the First Test Match at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Australia pulled off an incredible 3-wicket win in the First Test at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados amidst fading light conditions. The visitors went into the final session at 61 for 2 in 22 overs needing 131 more runs to win with bad light likely to stop play any moment. The Aussies prevailed in the tense finish while the West Indies fell short of a victory by just three wickets.

The final day began with West Indies on the edge at 71 for 5 with an overall lead of 114 runs. Australia without much fuss cleaned up the Windies for 148 with Ryan Harris taking three and Peter Siddle coming up with two wickets. The main destroyer was Ben Hilfenhaus who took three wickets on Day 4 and got one more on Day 5.

Australia were left with a target of 192 and the match was set up towards a great climax. However, there was a shower in Bridgetown which threatened to end the game in a stalemate. Luckily, play resumed with Australia having 62 overs to get the 192 runs. An energetic knock of 52 from 57 balls (with 4 fours and a six) from Shane Watson set the tempo for the Aussies after Tea. West Indies pulled back things by reducing Australia to 140 for 5 in the 38th over.

West Indies were defied a victory by the cool Michael Hussey whose cameo of 32 from 26 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes left the visitors just three runs short of a famous victory. For the West Indies, part-time off spinner Narsingh Deonarine had kept them in the contest taking four wickets while Kemar Roach took two wickets.

Ryan Harris got the Man of the Match for taking a total of five wickets along with a crucial knock of 68* in the first innings.

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