Australia complete whitewash

Australia beat West Indies in the fifth and final ODI in Melbourne to complete a 4-0 whitewash and keep their unbeaten run at home this summer, intact.

Despite resting some of their key players, Australia were a way stronger side than the visitors as they beat them by a 125 run margin.

Australia won the toss and got off to a solid start after electing to bat. Their openers led them to 60 runs in the Quick start overs with all wickets intact. Shane Watson was responsible for a chunk of the scoring with another half century to his name. But both the openers went in quick succession, giving the visitors an opportunity to pull things back. The bowlers however, failed to take advantage as they let Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke add a 104 runs for the third wicket, putting Australia in a very dominating position at the 35 over mark. Despite losing both Ponting and Clarke, Australia were in a position to go for their shots in the last Extreme Performance overs. James Hopes and Adam Voges came to the party, adding a massive 82 runs off just 43 balls which helped Australia finish with 324/5 at the end of 50 overs.

The visitors needed a flying start in their run chase to have any chance of getting a win. But as we have seen throughout the series, their top order fell like a pack of cards. They were reduced to just 45 runs in the first Power Play, having lost four of their top order batsmen. Kieron Pollard and Lendl Simmons tried to get things back on track with their 41 run partnership for the fifth wicket before Pollard played one straight into the fielder’s hand. Their charge was derailed further as Australia picked up another three wickets in a hurry, leaving the Windies tottering at 137 for eight after 26 overs. Nikita Miller and Darren Sammy batted for a few overs and added fifty runs for the ninth wicket but it was a matter of time a Australia eventually bowled them out for jus 199 in 36.5 overs.

James Hopes was adjudged Man of the Match for his unbeaten 56 off just 27 balls. His Batting Momentum was a staggering 148.