IT?TOOK?JUST OVER AN HOUR yesterday for Australia to complete a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President’s XI in their three-day practice match at the 3Ws Oval.
Starting the day on 30 without loss and requiring a further 56 to win, the Aussies had two hiccups – losing Shane Watson and captain Michael Clarke cheaply.
Opener Ed Cowan hit the winning runs, a four through forward square leg off left-arm pacer Delorn Johnson.
The left-hander, who resumed on ten, finished on 28 not out while former Australian captain Ricky Ponting made an attractive unbeaten 23.
Watson was the first casualty on the final day for 25 when he pulled a ball from pacer Jason Holder to Kevin McClean on the square leg boundary after the tourists added 12 runs.
Ten runs later, Clarke edged leg-spinner Nkrumah Bonner to wicketkeeper Devon Thomas, having scored only four. This means that the Aussie captain will go into the first Test that starts at Kensington Oval on Saturday without a major score behind him, having missed the limited-overs segment of the tour due to injury.
Ponting maximized the limited opportunity for batting practice with a fluent innings that included an elegant extra cover drive off Bonner. He struck three fours and faced 35 deliveries during his 35 minutes at the crease.
Cowan, who patiently anchored the run chase, batted for an hour and a half; he faced 62 balls and struck three fours.
Holder took one for 17 off 17 overs and Bonner one for 31 off eight.
