Australia maintained their dominance over the West Indies, cruising to a five-wicket victory to lead their one-day international series 4-0 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. Only a belligerent unbeaten century from man-of-the-match Kieron Pollard gave the West Indies a respectable score of 220 after they were 55 for six at one stage.
But it was easily run down by the Australians, who secured victory with 31 balls to spare and will now go after a series clean sweep in Melbourne on Sunday.
If not for Pollard’s 109 off 136 balls it would have been an even more emphatic victory for Michael Clarke’s team who always had control of the run chase under lights. Shane Watson followed up his 122 in Wednesday’s 39-run series-clinching win in Canberra with 76 off 84 balls and skipper Clarke hit 37 off 65 balls before he was out gloving down the leg-side to express bowler Tino Best with the scores level.
Glen Maxwell came in and hit the winning run with Matthew Wade not out 13.
Clarke ruled out
Clarke has been ruled out of the fifth and final ODI in Melbourne on Sunday after complaining of a recurrence of the hamstring trouble that he has carried through the Australian summer.
{{/usCountry}}Clarke has been ruled out of the fifth and final ODI in Melbourne on Sunday after complaining of a recurrence of the hamstring trouble that he has carried through the Australian summer.
{{/usCountry}}Clarke’s right hamstring was assessed by the team physiotherapist, who has confirmed that the player has hamstring stiffness.