Sammy's half-century in vain as Aussies wrap up series

Roseau (Dominica), April 28 (IANS/CMC) Captain Darren Sammy posted his highest Test score in vain as the West Indies plunged to a 75-run defeat in the third and final Test against Australia here.

Resuming the final day on 173 for five and needing a virtual miracle to reach their target of 370, the West Indies lost their last five wickets for 121 runs to be dismissed on the stroke of lunch for 294 Saturday.

It was enough time for Sammy to plunder a typically stroke-filled 61, an innings that entertained a large Windsor Park crowd despite the disappointment of defeat.

He put on a robust 49 for the last wicket with hometown boy Shane Shillingford whose career-best unbeaten 31 was equally as entertaining.

Their cavalier approach brightened an otherwise depressing result for the West Indies as they extended their wretched record with only three wins in their last 31 Tests.

Starting the day needing an improbable 197 for victory, the West Indies were quickly undermined by occasional left-arm spinner Michael Clarke who picked up two of the wickets to fall to finish with five for 86.

The Australian captain struck the decisive blow just six overs into the morning session with seven runs added when he had Narsingh Deonarine caught and bowled for 13.

His dismissal paved the way for the Sammy show as the right-hander played with gay abandon in smashing four fours and three sixes off 51 balls.

Sammy hit off-spinner Nathan Lyon (3-87) for a six over long-off and then tore into Clarke, taking two fours and a swatted six over mid-wicket in the bowler's 20th over that cost 17 runs.

Sammy put on 26 for the seventh wicket with Carlton Baugh who scored 12 before pulling to Ricky Ponting at short mid-wicket off Lyon.

Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul and Shillingford stayed enough to take the West Indies closer to the 300-run mark but not anywhere near the target.

Shillingford collected three consecutive boundaries in Lyon's 29th over and delighted his countrymen with a pulled four off seamer Ryan Harris and a proficient drive off left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc to the cover boundary.

The entertainment inevitably ended when Sammy top-edged a slog-sweep to Ben Hilfenhaus off Lyon, handing the Aussies a 2-0 win in the three-match series.

They won the first Test in Barbados by three wickets, with the second Test in Trinidad finishing in a draw.

--IANS/CMC

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