Australia's captain Ricky Ponting led from the front with a brilliant century as the hosts won the fourth match at Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba in Brisbane by a convincing 50 runs, sealing the series by invincible 3-0 with a match to go. Aussies' mammoth total of 324 was the highest at Brisbane, and West Indies lost wickets too regularly to seriously threaten the target, leaving the final match a dead rubber.
A strong start was crucial to the visitors' success under lights, and Chris Gayle set off in destructive fashion. A cameo of 34 from 21 balls included a series of drives and pulls over the infield, as Ryan Harris and Doug Bollinger were given an early battering. As 42-run were came off the first five overs before Travis Dowlin (8 off 16) edged Harris behind the stumps; Bollinger soon had his man when Gayle did the same off a peach of an out-swinger. James Hopes then struck first ball as Lendl Simmons picked out square leg, and West Indies' momentum was firmly snuffed as Narsingh Deonarine and Wavell Hinds were forced to regroup.
Hinds, playing his first innings since 2006, made 20 before a terrible mixup, which was exploited by Hopes, and though Deonarine scored a fighting half-century. He and the lower-order were left with far too much to do. He brought up his fifty with a slog-swept four off Nathan Hauritz, but holed out next ball to long-off. That set the stage for a remarkable but futile partnership between the lower-order hitters, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Smith.
Pollard dumped Harris over mid-on for six to set the tone, and though a massive 134 were needed off ten overs there was fierce resistance as both players smashed a six apiece off a Hopes over. Pollard's first fifty came off just 43 balls, and he had hit four-four and four-sixes when he lofted Mitchel Johnson to the deep. Smith bludgeoned consecutive sixes over long-on to reach his fifty, but it was a late positive for the visitors as they surrendered the series.
Australia's massive score featured a clinical performance. Shane Watson showcased his form with a cracking cameo, hitting three fours and a six before a mistimed skier was brilliantly caught running backward by Hinds from mid-on. The other new opener, Tim Paine, managed 24 off 36 before he was superbly snaffled at point by Pollard off Darren Sammy, but by then Ponting was in full flow. The pick of his innings was a pair of elegant lofts over mid-off off Pollard, one of them clearing the rope; and the momentum continued to flow as the runs were picked off with regularity.
Cameron White played a fluent anchor to perfection, scoring 63 (two fours and a six) and replacing his natural aggression with intelligent strike rotation. The pair tormented West Indies with a partnership of 131, featuring alert running and a brisk scoring rate despite few boundaries. Ponting's second fifty came at nearly a run a ball but included just one four; all in all he hit six fours and two sixes.
By the time White holed out off Nikita Miller, the Australians had a wonderful platform at 226 for 3 in forty overs. They made good use; Michael Hussey and Adam Voges hit quick cameos but the most damage came off a superb Hopes effort.
The all-rounder started with his favourite square drive for four, and scurried between the wicket in addition to scooping the ball over the infield regularly. Smith came in for heavy treatment and even Darren Sammy, the best of the West Indies attack, conceded 14 off his final over. Hopes' 42 came off just 21 balls, with six fours, and though he was bowled in the last over he capped off a fine performance for Australia, leaving the West Indies with only respect to play for.
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