Cricket: West Indies beat Aussies to level series

A career-best one-day international haul by West Indies spinner Sunil Narine sent Australia to a five-wicket defeat in a rain-affected clash, and levelled the five-game series at 1-1. Narine claimed 4-27 off eight overs as Australia limped to 9-154 in a match shortened to 40 overs per side after a 100 minute rain delay in St Vincent. Chasing a Duckworth-Lewis revised target of 158, the West Indies scored the winning runs in the 39th over as allrounder Kieron Pollard compiled an unbeaten 47. After their horror batting collapse in Friday's opening one-dayer, the Windies still had their moments during their innings with promising opener Johnson Charles (26) needlessly run out in a mix up with Darren Bravo (16). But Pollard and Dwayne Bravo (30) shared a match-winning 64-run fifth-wicket stand before Carlton Baugh sent the capacity crowd at the Arnos Vale Ground into party mode with a six to seal the West Indies first one-day victory over Australia since 2006. Australia's innings never really got going despite David Hussey (37), Shane Watson (25) and Michael Hussey (24) all making starts. Narine used the slow pitch and his variations well while fast bowler Kemar Roach gave a good supporting hand, claiming the wickets of David Warner (13) and Peter Forrest (0) in the same over before finishing with 2-23 off eight overs. The Australians won't have long to bounce back from the defeat with the third match of the series to be played at the same venue on Tuesday (0030 Weds AEDT). That game could be the last of opener Chris Gayle's exile from the West Indies squad with the explosive batsman watching from the stands amid reports his long-running feud with the West Indies Cricket Board had come to an end. The reports were not confirmed but if true, Gayle may well be back in the squad in time for the fourth and fifth matches in St Lucia later this week.