Written by Craig Bilski | 09 December 2009

Aussies forced to fight out draw with West Indies

After being comprehensively beaten in three days in Brisbane, the West Indies have pushed Australia to a draw in the second test match at the Adelaide Oval. The home side required 330 runs to win the match but failed to keep up the run rate in the final day. 

A century from captain Chris Gayle allowed the Windies to set a decent total for the Aussies to chase in the second innings, carrying his bat through the innings to remain unbeaten on 165.
After gaining a small first innings lead of just 12 runs, the visitors needed to bat well in the second innings to keep themselves in the series.

The openers put on a solid partnership of 45 before Barath was run out in the most unlucky fashion when Hauritz got a finger on a straight drive from Gale, catching Barath out of his crease at the non-strikers end.
Mitchell Johnson struck shortly after when a short ball caught the gloves of Sarwan and keeper Haddin completed a diving catch.
Despite the dying pitch, Gayle and Chanderpaul made batting look easy and the pair put on 72 runs before Bollinger trapped Chanderpaul lbw for 27.
Gayle went on to score his century as Nash and Bravo held up the other end but with time running out on day four the Windies needed push the run rate to give them enough time to bowl Australia out.
They attempted to take on the Australian bowlers but failed as Johnson and Bollinger took late wickets to have the Windies at 8/284 at stumps.

The lead of 296 wasn’t enough for the visitors as they continued to bat early on the final day but again failed when they tried to go the hit. Johnson bowled Rampaul to pick him his fifth wicket of the innings before Bollinger ended the innings when Roach edged the ball to Ponting at slip.

The Aussies had to score at just over four runs per over to chase down the 330 to win and they started well with some early boundaries of the pacemen. Katich went for one boundary too many and hit one to Barath who took a great catch at cover.
The run rate slowed as Sulieman Benn came into the attack and when Rampaul bowled the Australia captain for 20 it looked the total might be out of the Australian’s reach.
Watson and Hussey built a solid partnership to keep the Aussie’s chance of victory alive, but the pull shot would be the downfall of Watson once again when he spooned one to Bravo who took and amazing diving catch off Darren Sammy.
Only three wickets down at tea, the West Indies required seven wickets and Australia needed 198 in the final session for either to win, so a result looked unlikely.
Two wickets straight after the break gave the Windies a sniff but Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin held on to force a draw and retain the Frank Worrell Trophy.

Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Result: Draw
Man of the Match: Chris Gayle

1st Innings

West Indies - All Out for 451
Dwayne Bravo - 104
Brendan Nash - 92
Mitchell Johnson - 3/105
Doug Bollinger - 2/67

Australia - All Out for 439
Shane Watson - 96
Simon Katich - 80
Sulieman Benn - 5/155
Kemar Roach - 3/93

2nd Innings

West Indies - All Out for 317
Chris Gayle - 165*
Mitchell Johnson - 5/103
Doug Bollinger - 3/50

Australia - 5 for 212
Michael Clarke - 61*
Shane Watson - 48
Dwayne Bravo - 3/37