Finally, the Windies win in Australia
The West Indies cricket team ended a two-month winning drought with a comfortable victory over Australia A in a one-day match at the Adelaide Oval late Tuesday.
The West Indies, who have endured a wretched tour, had failed to win a game since November after losing five Tests against Australia for the first time.
But they finally broke through, comfortably accounting for Australia's second-string side by four wickets with more than eight overs to spare after bowling the home side out for 145 in just 42.3 overs.
Victory did not come without a scare after a late tumble of wickets threatened to make reaching the target hard work.
The West Indies have been notorious for their batting collapses on tour, and once again their middle-order unravelled in quick succession to former Test paceman Damien Fleming and Test leg spinner Stuart MacGill.
However, tour discovery Marlon Samuels steadied the tourists, winning the man-of-the-match honours after top scoring with 45 and taking two wickets.
Ridley Jacobs remained not out on 15 and Laurie Williams was unbeaten on 11 as the West Indies cruised to 146 for six.
Australia A made an early breakthrough as the tourists started their run chase before the dinner break.
Paceman Paul Wilson had stand-in Windies skipper Sherwin Campbell (eight) caught by Michael Slater in his second over to have the tourists lurching at 14 for one.
Fleming, who continued his successful return after missing much of the summer with a shocking run of injuries, then claimed the crucial wicket of Brian Lara, caught by Shane Lee at first slip for nine.
Wavell Hinds and Samuels resumed at 28 for two after the break and forged a 71-run partnership before Hinds (29) was caught by Greg Blewett at cover off the bowling of MacGill.
After going so long without a victory, the West Indies got the wobbles and lost three wickets in three overs.
Fleming struck again when he had Sylvester Jacobs (13) caught behind by Wade Seccombe.
The Queensland keeper was in the action again, stumping a charging Samuels from the bowling of MacGill.
Ricardo Powell was then bowled by Fleming for a duck, giving the Victorian swing bowler figures of 3-18 from 10 overs in only his second match since missing more than a month with a bulging disc at the base of his neck.
Australia A could not recover with the bat after losing five wickets for just 95 runs in the first 25 overs.
Shane Lee looked set to offer some resistance to the tourists' attack, belting a Mahendra Nagamootoo delivery for a massive six over midwicket and out of the ground.
But when Lee lunged forward in an attempt to give Nagamootoo's next ball similar treatment, he was trapped outside his crease and stumped by Jacobs for 30.
Andy Bichel and Wilson put on 25 for the last wicket before Bichel was caught by Powell off Samuels for 30.
Nagamootoo claimed 3-28 from 10 overs while Samuels took 2-27 from 9.3 overs and Laurie Williams also took two wickets.
Scoreboard
Australia A:
M. Hayden c Campbell b Cuffy 7
G. Blewett c Campbell b Black 15
S. Katich c Powell b Williams 4
M. Slater c Campbell b Williams 19
B. Hodge run out 18
S. Lee stpd Jacobs b Nagamootoo 30
W. Seccombe b Nagamootoo 2
A. Bichel c Powell b Samuels 30
D. Fleming c Lara b Samuels 5
S. MacGill b Nagamootoo 1
P. Wilson not out 1
Extras (lb4, w5, nb4) 13
Total (all out) 145
Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-26, 3-35, 4-64, 5-95, 6-100, 7-111, 8-118, 9-120
Bowling: Black 7-0-31-1 (3nb, 2w), Cuffy 9-1-27-1 (1nb, 1w), Williams 7-0-28-2 (2w), Nagamootoo 10-2-28-3, Samuels 9.3-0-27-2.
Overs: 42.3
West Indies:
S. Campbell c Slater b Wilson 8
W. Hinds c Blewett b MacGill 29
B. Lara c Lee b Fleming 9
M. Samuels stpd Seccombe b MacGill 45
S. Joseph c Seccombe b Fleming 13
R. Powell b Fleming 0
R. Jacobs not out 15
L. Williams not out 11
Extras (b3, lb5, w6, nb2) 16
Total (6 wkts) 146
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-23, 3-94, 4-113, 5-118, 6-118
Bowling: Fleming 10-2-18-3 (1w), Wilson 8-0-29-1 (1nb 2w), Bichel 7-1-30-0 (1nb), MacGill 10-2-37-2 (2w,) Lee 6.5-0-24-0 (1w)
Overs: 41.5
West Indies won by 4 wickets
Mail Cricket Editor
