Marlon Samuels guides West Indies to 4-wicket win over Australia

BASSETERRE (St. Kitts): Marlon Samuels scored 92 off 87 balls to guide the West Indies to a four-wicket victory over Australia on Monday in the fifth match of the limited-overs tri-series.

Samuels struck eight fours and four sixes as the hosts reached 266-6, surpassing the victory target with 4.2 overs to spare. Earlier, Usman Khawaja was run out for 98 after piloting the Australians to 265-7 off 50 overs. The West Indies' victory pursuit was given impetus by an opening stand of 74 inside 10 overs by Johnson Charles (48) and Andre Fletcher (27). The openers benefited from chances to Khawaja before Australia hit back by dismissing both as the score dipped to 85-2. Samuels then anchored the chase in successive half-century stands with Darren Bravo (39) and Denesh Ramdin (29). The 35-year-old Samuels had the crowd on its feet with three successive sixes against leg-spinner Adam Zampa as the victory neared. But he was run out by a slick direct hit from wicketkeeper Matthew Wade when in sight of his 10th ODI century. Paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile dismissed Ramdin and captain Jason Holder to add to home team nerves before Kieron Pollard (16 not out) sealed the crucial victory. Australia remains top of the three-team standings on nine points from four matches, with West Indies on eight points from three matches and South Africa on five from three. Australia, playing without injured vice-captain David Warner, lost its first wicket on the fourth ball of the match when Aaron Finch was dismissed. But the Caribbean bowlers were soon dulled by lefthander Khawaja, who shared a second-wicket stand of 170 with Steve Smith. The Australian captain compiled 74 off 95 balls before he top-edged a slog at Brathwaite to provide a skied catch. Khawaja, in his ninth ODI, struck four fours and three sixes off 123 deliveries before falling just short of a maiden century in the format, run out by a combination of Jerome Taylor's swift, accurate return and stand-in wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher's neat collection. Then Australia lost momentum, with the last 10 overs netting just 73 runs despite George Bailey's 55 from 56 balls. There were two wickets apiece for medium pacers Pollard (2-32), Holder (2-44) and Brathwaite (2-60). The West Indies and South Africa meet in the sixth match of the tournament at this same venue on Wednesday.

BRIEF SCORES Australia: 265 for 7 (Usman Khawaja 98, Steve Smith 74, Kieron Pollard 2/32, Jason Holder 2/44) West Indies 266 for 6 (Marlon Samuels 92, Johnson Charles 48, Adam Zampa 2/60). West Indies beat Australia by four wickets.