West Indies stun Australia in thriller
Brian Lara's men are trying to retain their trophy
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Wednesday, 18, Oct 2006 09:10
The West Indies beat Australia by ten runs in an ICC Champion's Trophy thriller, with Jerome Taylor's hat-trick sealing victory for the current holders.
Brian Lara won the toss and chose to again put his confidence in the order that performed so badly last time out against Sri Lanka.
The partnership of the innings came from Runako Morton and Lara himself, who put on a 137 run stand for the fifth wicket. Morton was a late replacement for Shivnarine Chanderpaul who missed the game with a stomach complaint.
Morton went on to score 90 as the West Indies set a challenging total of 235 to win.
Lara was unable to play in the second innings due to a rib injury he sustained, leaving Ramnaresh Sarwan to lead his men in the field.
Australia also lost early wickets in their reply; Shane Watson was promoted up the order but went for a duck, while Jerome Taylor made captain Ricky Ponting chop on to his own stumps for just one.
Adam Gilchrist led the fight back along with Michael Clarke, with the former making 92 before being run out as the score stood at 182 for five.
It was to be the turning point as Clarke and the rest of the Australian tail could not resist the West Indies attack.
Taylor put the victory beyond doubt by then claiming his hat-trick, accounting for Mike Hussey and then trapping Brett Lee lbw; with the first ball of his next over he bowled Brad Hogg as the all-rounder tried to work him to the leg side.