West Indies v Australia, Seventh One-Day international Cricinfo staff

Almanack home 2004 home

At St George's, Grenada, June 1, 2003. West Indies won by nine wickets. Toss: Australia.

Although this last game contained some fine individual performances, its true significance was to highlight how tedious such prolonged bilateral series could be. Australia, confirmed victors eight days and three matches earlier, struggled to stir their competitive juices, before a nimblefooted hundred from Lehmann - his second on this ground - saw them to a respectable 247. But when Gayle, after taking five wickets for the first time, teamed up with Hinds to steer West Indies to their first century opening partnership against Australia in limited-overs internationals, Ponting's side were all but going through the motions. Hinds blasted another unbeaten hundred, and Lara ensured proceedings ended with more of a bang than a whimper by crashing Lehmann for three successive sixes. Afterwards, he and Ponting, who injured his hip while batting, suggested these series should be capped at five matches to prevent the meaningless, soulless cricket that blighted the end of Australia's tour.

Man of the Match: C. H. Gayle. Man of the Series: W. W. Hinds.

© John Wisden & Co.

Matches

West Indies v Australia at St George's