Australia romps to 39-run win against West Indies to claim series victory

AS FAR as comebacks go, they don't get much better than what Shane Watson delivered in front of a packed Manuka Oval yesterday.

AS FAR as comebacks go, they don't get much better than what Shane Watson delivered in front of a packed Manuka Oval yesterday.

Playing his first game in six weeks since a calf injury, Watson smashed an impressive 122 off 111 balls to help Australia to 7-329 in the third one-dayer against the West Indies.

The Windies looked set to pull off a sensational upset when birthday boy Darren Bravo and his older brother Dwayne piled on 114 runs for the third wicket, only for the Caribbean run chase to once again run out of puff.

They lost by 39 runs, and it was Watson's return knock that proved the difference.

FULL INTERACTIVE SCOREBOARD

Watson not only proved he will be one of the first batsmen picked for the up-coming Test series in India, he re-enforced the fact opening is where he is most destructive.

Test selectors must be seriously tempted to dump Ed Cowan and move Watson back up to the the top of the order with Twenty20 partner David Warner.

Watson and Warner are both aggressive players who can easily set up a Test victory in the first couple of sessions, especially in India when the ball is hard and easiest to get away.

The experienced Watson has often said opening is his preferred position in the order, and his Test figures suggest as much compared to when he comes in further down the order and exposed to the older ball.

Cowan has enjoyed mixed success this summer, but India - and more importantly Ashes rivals England - would hate the sight of hurling the new ball down to Watson-Warner pairing.

Manuka: Chris Gayle out for two

Watson was keen to make an immediate impact with the bat before he resumes bowling in the coming months - if he bowls again at all - and would have been delighted when skipper Michael Clarke won the toss yesterday and elected to bat on the flat Canberra deck.

Watson reached his half-century off 52 balls, then brought up his seventh ODI ton off 102 balls. He really upped the ante when he reached triple figures, smashing two sixes and a boundary before he was caught at deep backward square leg by Kieron Pollard off Kemar Roach.

The 31-year-old said after the match it was nice to spend plenty of time in the middle after a few short-lived stints in the middle for Sutherland in Sydney grade cricket, as well as NSW.

As for opening in Test cricket, Watson said: "I certainly do love opening the batting in all forms of the game, there's no doubt about that, especially in Test cricket, that's where I've had my most success. But with that, I 100 per cent appreciate I just want a spot in the Test team. I've only played a few Tests through the summer, and haven't scored big runs in Test cricket the last few years. I'm just happy to fit in where necessary, especially when I'm just batting.''

Phillip Hughes, who will join an advance party to India in the coming days, continued his brilliant summer yesterday, smashing 86 off 93 balls before he was caught behind.

James Faulkner picked up 4-48 off 8.3 overs, but is tipped to land in hot water with match officials for using the 'F-word' when he dismissed Chris Gayle (two).

And George Bailey suffered a hamstring strain with Adam Voges late last night placed on standby for tomorrow's fourth ODI in Sydney.

* * *

See the video of a great Kieron Pollard catch below...

GWS and Sheeds looking at West Indies'Kieron Pollard as a replacement for Israel Folau.#cantakeahanger

— Warwick Green (@WGreenHeraldSun) February 6, 2013

Re-live Australia's win with the rolling coverage of the match from Manuka below.

9.58pm AEDT - WI ALL OUT FOR 290 (47.3 overs)

AUSTRALIA WIN BY 39 RUNS!

James Faulkner gets his fourth scalp - all bowled - and Australia win comfortably in the end, the 39-run win giving them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. 

The last man to go is the captain Darren Sammy for eight.

9.55pm AEDT - WI 9/289 

WICKET!

James Faulkner picks up his third wicket of the innings - and all of them bowled.

On this occasion it's Sunil Narine who makes way for one as Australia close in on victory 

40 needed off 16 with one wicket in hand.

All over.

9.49pm AEDT - WI 8/281 (45.6 overs)

WICKET!

Andre Russell did all he could but eventually falls for 43 off just 31 balls, top edging a Clint McKay delivery high in the air, and Matty Wade is able to come around and take an easy catch with the gloves. 

9.39pm AEDT - WI 7/264 (44.1 overs)

WICKET!

Mitchell Johnson strikes with a slower ball crashing into the top of Ramnaresh Sarwan's leg stump.

Sarwan threw everything at it but lifted the head and missed by plenty.

He goes for 12.

Andre Russell (29 off 22) and Darren Sammy out there. 66 needed off 35 balls.

9.33pm AEDT - WI 6/254 (43 overs)

Andre Russell (24 off 18) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (7 off 9) giving the Windies hope. 

76 off 42 needed.

9.19pm AEDT - WI 6/234 (40.1 overs)

WICKET!

Wonderful piece of work from Mitchell Johnson to run out Kieron Pollard.

Andre Russell had attempted the drop and run.

But, following through off his own bowling, Johnson picked up the ball with his left hand and flicked at the stumps in one motion and did not miss.

Pollard was half a metre short and departs for nine.

Uphill battle for the Windies now. 

9.18pm AEDT - WI 5/234 (40 overs)

The scenario with 10 overs to go:

96 needed off 60 balls with five wickets in hand.

Kieron Pollard (9 off 7) out there with Andre Russell (11 off 9) and both men can hit a cricket ball.

9.07pm AEDT - WI 5/215 (37.4 overs)

WICKET!

What an over from James Faulkner, picking up the big wicket - Darren Bravo - for 85 off 95, just moments after removing Chris Gayle.

Bravo is also bowled, trying to give himself room again but completely missing as he tries to hammer a cover drive for another boundary.

Australia suddenly take control.

9.04pm AEDT - WI 4/214 (37.1 overs)

WICKET!

Chris Gayle is gone for two off five balls and James Faulkner is pumped.

The Aussie allrounder picks up the key wicket, bowling Gayle who was trying to work the ball on the onside but played all around it. 

9pm AEDT - WI 3/214 (37 overs)

Darren Bravo getting into that mode where he really starts looking like his cousin Brian Lara.

He smashed Mitchell Starc for two boundaries in that over, giving himself plenty of room on the second four to throw the bat at it and launch the ball through the covers for four. 

Bravo's up to 86 from 95 balls, with seven fours and a six.

8.56pm AEDT

On a side note, George Bailey is off receiving treatment after a collision with James Faulkner in the field.

8.49pm AEDT - WI 3/195 (34.6 overs)

WICKET!

Mitchell Starc breaks through for Australia, squaring up Dwayne Bravo and then cleaning him up with a ball that may have nipped back slightly off a length.

Bravo is out bowled for 51 off 50.

Chris Gayle strides to the crease. Intriguing period now... 135 off 90 needed.

8.45pm AEDT - WI 2/193 (34 overs)

Monster six from Darren Bravo from that Clint McKay over.

Bravo got under the slower ball and you didn't think it was any chance of reaching the fence, let alone launching into the stands like it did. It's just that it went so high.

8.38pm AEDT - WI 2/181 (32.3 overs)

FIFTY!

Dwayne Bravo brings up his fifty off 44 balls and the partnership is now worth 100.

At least one of the Bravos has to go on and make a big one, you would think.

8.29pm AEDT - WI 2/165 (30 overs)

Time to do the old double the score trick again. West Indies would be 330... isn't that interesting given that's exactly how many they need.

With Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle still in the sheds, and the Windies slightly ahead of where the Australians were on runs at the same point (Aus were 1/161) this one could be headed for a big finish.

Run rate required: 8.25.

8.23pm AEDT - WI 2/157 (28.4 overs)

FIFTY!

Darren Bravo brings up his half ton off 67 balls - an innings that has only featured three fours.

Nice knock, but he knows as well as anyone that his job is far from done. 

8.12pm AEDT - WI 2/144 (26 overs)

Just over the halfway point and the Windies require 7.75 an over with eight wickets in hand - and Chris Gayle to come.

The Bravo boys are doing it well. Darren is up to 42 (58) and Dwayne 30 (25) and their partnership is worth 63.

Big over there from the pair, taking Mitchell Johnson for 15 runs.

7.56pm AEDT - WI 2/105 (21 overs)

Darren Bravo and his brother Dwayne keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

225 runs required from 174 balls now, a required run rate of 7.75 an over.

Darren's moved to 29 off 44, with Dwayne six off nine.

7.41pm AEDT - WI 2/81 (16.4 overs)

WICKET!

Big wicket for Australia as Kieran Powell is out caught by Matty Wade off the bowling of Glenn Maxwell.

Powell was attempting to sweep the spinner, but only succeeded in getting a top edge that Wade was able to gather with a diving effort to his right.

Powell is gone for 47 off 49. He was looking dangerous.

7.39pm AEDT - WI 1/79 (16 overs)

Powell just working the ball around and has moved to 46 off 46.

Darren Bravo struggling to get on top of the Aussie bowlers and is 11 off 26. 

7.25pm AEDT - WI 1/61 (12 overs)

The wicket has stemmed the flow of runs for the West Indies, with just seven coming off the past four overs from Clint McKay and James Faulkner.

Kieran Powell is 34 off 36 and Darren Bravo five from 12. 

7.11pm AEDT - WI 1/54 (8.4 overs)

WICKET!

Devon Thomas is gone for 19 off 25 balls after skying a Clint McKay delivery into the waiting hands of Phil Hughes.

Thomas was through his shot way too early, resulting in sending the ball straight up, ballooning to Hughes in the covers for an easy catch.

Kieran Powell has powered to 33 from 28.

Darren Bravo the new man in.

7pm AEDT - WI 0/32 (6.0 overs)

Kieran Powell is into launch mode and, surprisingly, Australia's spearhead Mitchell Starc has come under the most punishment.

Powell is up to 25 off 23 - including five fours - and Starc has gone for 22 off his three overs, including four fours. 

6.52pm AEDT - WI 0/10 (4.0 overs)

Powell decided to get moving on that over, spanking Starc for two fours - one through cover and the other to backward square leg.

Nine runs from the over.

6.46pm AEDT - WI 0/1 (3.0 overs)

West Indies have been super watchful in the opening overs and the required run rate is already up to seven an over.

Thomas is one off nine and Pollard none off nine.

6.33pm AEDT - WI 0/0 (1.0 overs)

Kieran Powell and Devon Thomas opening the batting for the West Indies, with Chris Gayle demoted to No. 7 because he is struggling with a side strain.

Huge loss with such a hefty run chase ahead.

Clint McKay opens up with a maiden. 

6.00pm AEDT - AUS 7/329 (50 overs) 

WATSON GUIDES AUSSIES TO 329

SHANE Watson has made a remarkable return to the international arena with a brilliant century in the third one-dayer against the West Indies in Canberra.

Playing his first match in six weeks since he broke down with a calf injury, Watson blasted 122 runs off 111 balls to help the Aussies to a commanding 7-329.

After skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat on a flat Manuka Oval deck, Watson and Aaron Finch (38 off 41) had no trouble finding the boundary.

They were motoring towards a century-opening stand before Finch was caught behind by Devon Thomas off the bowling of Darren Sammy.

Watson

Watson went on to post his seventh ODI century, then really upped the ante, crunching two sixes and a boundary before he holed out to Kieron Pollard at deep backward square leg off the bowling of Kemar Roach.

The 31-year-old has plans to play as a batsman only for the upcoming Test tour of India before resuming bowling in time for June's Champions Trophy and then the Ashes.

Phillip Hughes crunched a handy 86 off 93 balls before he was caught by Thomas - the keeper somehow held the ball between his legs - and will take plenty of confidence from his knock before he joins an advance party to India in the coming days.

Australia look well placed to go 3-0 up in the best-of-five series.

5.55pm AEDT - AUS 7/321 (49.1 overs)

WICKET!

Dwayne Bravo bowls James Faulkner for two as the Aussie allrounder goes for the big heave to cow corner and misses completely.

5.51pm AEDT - AUS 6/317 (48.2 overs)

POLLARD DOES IT AGAIN!

George Bailey charges the spinner Narine and creams it to deep mid-wicket.

Who should be there waiting? None other than Kieron Pollard, who launches skyward and reels it in with two hands. He turns a six into a wicket again - and with another ripper.

Bailey is out for 44 off 22.

5.49pm AEDT - AUS 5/316 (48 overs)

George Bailey has carried on his magnificent form from game two at the WACA, where he scored a ton.

The Twenty20 skipper has raced to 44 off 21 balls, including six fours and a six.

5.43pm AEDT - AUS 5/299 (46.4 overs)

UNBELIEVABLE CATCH!

Kieron Pollard has pulled off one of the catches of the summer to remove Glenn Maxwell.

Maxwell hammered it flat to the deep square leg boundary and it looked for all money to be six. 

But Pollard came flying across the ropes and launched himself in the air.

At full stretch, and with just his right hand, Pollard plucked it out of the sky and somehow managed to stay inside the ropes.

Maxwell is gone for four and he can't believe it.

Pollard

5.37pm AEDT - AUS 4/282 (45.4 overs)

WICKET!

Phil Hughes' fine innings comes to an end on 86 off 93 balls. 

Darren Sammy gets the scalp and it's a very neat catch from Darren Thomas behind the wicket.

Hughes went for a huge cover drive but got a bottom edge and Thomas caught it between his legs up at the stumps.

Fireworks expected now as Glenn Maxwell joins George Bailey (17 off 12).

5.26pm AEDT - AUS 3/271 (44 overs)

It seems as though it was a different innings entirely when PhIl Hughes was struggling to get the ball off the square and had crawled to 10 off 32 balls.

The lefty has moved to 79 off 86 - including a couple of crushing fours through point off the back foot - to be in with a chance of becoming Australia's second century maker of the match.

5.14pm AEDT - AUS 3/242 (40.4 overs)

WICKET!

Michael Clarke is out caught and bowled Kieron Pollard for 15 off 19 balls.

The skipper couldn't get going today, playing a lot of out-of-character cross-bat shots and his wicket was no exception.

Clarke couldn't get a hold of a full delivery from Pollard at all and could only manage to pop it back to Pollard, who took a juggling catch.

A 41-run partnership comes to an end. George Bailey joins Phil Hughes, who is on 62 from 75 balls.

4.59pm AEDT - AUS 2/222 (37.2 overs)

HUGHES FIFTY!

Phil Hughes brings up a fighting 50 off 63 balls. The dig includes six fours.

Can he go on and turn it into a big one, and take the Aussies well past 300? 

Hughes

4.55pm AEDT - AUS 2/219 (36.4 overs)

Extremely close lbw call goes in Michael Clarke's favour as half the ball is deemed to have hit him just outside the line of off-stump from the bowling of Kieron Pollard on review.

Had Clarke been given out initially the decision would have stood.

He survives on six. 

4.52pm AEDT - AUS 2/214 (36 overs)

Phil Hughes approaching his 50, moving to 48 off 60 balls after a very slow start to his innings.

New man at the crease Michael Clarke is two off six, with one of those runs coming from an ugly cross-batted slog to mid on. 

4.37pm AEDT - AUS 2/201 (33.5 overs)

WICKET!

After reaching his run-a-ball ton, Shane Watson decided to really tee off.

He sent Gayle and Roach for sixes in successive overs, but eventually fell to the latter.

Watson was out for 122 off 111 balls, caught by Pollard in the deep after going for a big slog to deep square leg.

His brilliant knock included 12 fours and the two sixes.

Hughes is still out there on 37 and will be joined by skipper Michael Clarke.

4.30pm AEDT - AUS 1/169 ( 31.4 overs)

WATSON CENTURY!

Shane Watson brings up his 100 off 102 balls in his long-awaited return from a calf injury.

He has dominated from the outset, his innings including 11 fours.

With the India tour coming up and question marks over whether Watson should be picked solely as a batsman, the ton could not have come at a better time.

I think we all agree it's a good thing Australian selectors decided Shane Watson was good enough to play as a batsman only?

— stu macgill(@scgmacgill) February 6, 2013

Watson

4.24pm AEDT - AUS 1/161 (30 overs)

Watson to 95 off 98 and he was helped by some lazy fielding on the fence from Narine in that Roach over.

Watson cut the ball hard toward the fence at point and Narine, coming around from third man, opts for the old boot trick and fails. Four runs.

On the topic of tricks. It's the 30-over mark so time to double the Australians' total to determine where they should be after 50... 322 - that'd take some chasing.

4.14pm AEDT - AUS 1/151 (28 overs)

Shane Watson brings up Australia's 150 with a textbook cover drive for four off the bowling of Dwayne Bravo. Perfectly played: head still, big stride forward, hit beautifully through the ball. 

Watson moves to the dreaded 87 off just 88 balls. Hughes 23 off 41 and finally starting to get going.

Watson

4.03pm AEDT - AUS 1/128 (25 overs)

Watson looking in complete control, but we know how shaky he gets when he closes in on a ton.

He's 77 off 79 while Hughes is 10 off 32 and really battling to find the middle.

Watson has six ODI hundreds to his name, the most recent a massive 185 not out against Bangladesh in April 2011 - almost two years ago.

Fingers crossed for Watto for a big hundred @cricketaus

— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) February 6, 2013

3.48pm AEDT - AUS 1/113 (21 overs)

West Indies had tied the Australians down, allowing just eight runs off four overs.

But Shane Watson broke the shackles in that Narine over, with a bit of luck.

Going for a late cut, Watson is very late on it, sending it just past first slip to the fence.

He's on 67 off 66 with Hughes five off 21 and struggling to get away.   

3.30pm AEDT - AUS 1/97 (16 overs)

Sammy lost the plot in the second half of that wicket over.

On what should have been the last ball, Sammy was ruled to have overstepped to Phil Hughes, who also worked the ball away for a single. It was a tough call, but nonetheless...

On the free-hit ball to Watson, Sammy threw up a full toss that Watson hammered to the mid-wicket fence, but the ball was called for another no-ball for height.

Another free hit. 

Watson only gets a single this time, but Sammy's not a happy chappy.

3.22pm AEDT - AUS 1/89 (15.3 overs)

WICKET!

One ball after Shane Watson brought up his 50 off 52 balls, Aaron Finch edged a gentle Darren Sammy delivery behind and Devon Thomas made no mistake with the gloves standing up to the medium pacer.

It was a disappointing end to a promising innings from Finch, whose 38 came off 41 balls and included five boundaries. 

Phil Hughes joins Watson in the middle.

3.11pm AEDT - AUS 0/74 (12 overs)

Both the Australian openers looking good out there. Watson is 42 off 39 and Finch 31 off 33.

Much needed runs for Finch, who has had scores of 16, 4, 10 and 11 in his four previous ODIs this summer.  

2.57pm AEDT - AUS 0/50 (9.0 overs)

Lucky break for the Aussies in that Roach over as a Finch leading edge pops up but somehow falls in between the man at short cover and extra cover.

Finch was squared up and the ball went high and over the man at catching cover, and the extra cover seemed to be slow to react.

Australia travelling well otherwise, bringing up their 50 at a rate of 5.55 runs an over.

Finch

2.46pm AEDT - AUS 0/33 (6.0 overs)

Big over from the Australians, taking Andre Russell for 13 runs.

Three boundaries off the over, including another picturesque Watson straight drive and a Finch pull shot that bounced once before flying over the rope.

2.38pm AEDT - AUS 0/19 (4.0 overs)

Finch gets off the mark with a beautifully timed flick off his pads through mid-wicket for four.

He's on six off 11 balls with Watson 12 off 13.

2.34pm AEDT - AUS 0/12 (3.0 overs)

A maiden from Roach to Finch, including a half shout for lbw. Finch yet to get off the mark.

2.30pm AEDT - AUS 0/12 (2.0 overs)

Watson ruins a good over from Andre Russell with a powerful square drive on the up for four off the last ball. 

Aaron Finch up the other end is yet to face a ball.

2.26pm AEDT - AUS 0/8 (1.0 overs)

Beautiful start from Shane Watson in his return to international cricket since breaking down in the Boxing Day Test with a calf injury, taking eight runs from the first over of the day from Kemar Roach.

Watson got off the mark by guiding a late cut to third man for two before thumping Roach back down the ground with a glorious straight drive for four.

With persistent injuries meaning Watson may no longer bowl for Australia, Watson will be eager for a big score to cement his spot in the Test team as a batsman for the India tour.

Watson considering giving up bowling 

2.05pm AEDT - AUSTRALIA WIN TOSS, WILL BAT FIRST

AUSTRALIA have won the toss and will bat in the third one-dayer against the West Indies on what appears a flat Canberra deck.

A good crowd has arrived at Manuka Oval to watch the first international involving Australia, with the venue's new $5 million lights to be tested later tonight.

Australia will open with Shane Watson, who returns from a calf injury he suffered during the Boxing Day Test, and Aaron Finch. The pair are expected to make the most of the sunny skies and the same wicket that produced more than 600 runs last week during the PM's XI match.

Spinner Xavier Doherty will carry the drinks for Australia.

Michael Clarke's Australia can go 3-0 up in the best-of-five series against a West Indies team beaten twice in Perth. Big-hitting opener Chris Gayle is long over-due for a decent score.

It will be the first official ODI sell-out this summer, with the 11,500 tickets snapped up before Christmas.

1.55pm AEDT

The West Indies will be looking to avoid going down in straight sets as they head into today's third one-day international against Australia with a 2-0 series deficit.

Mitchell Starc has been leading the way for the Aussies, but today's Manuka pitch is expected be to far less lively than the bouncy, fast WACA deck of the opening two games of the series.   

It's the first ever one-day match to be held at Manuka Oval, for those interested in a bit of trivia.

TEAMS

Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson, Aaron Finch, Phillip Hughes, George Bailey, Matthew Wade, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Clint McKay.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (capt), Chris Gayle, Kieran Powell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Devon Thomas, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Kemar Roach.