Windies beat Australia by 14 runs in second T20

Bridgetown (Barbados), March 31 (IANS/CMC) For the second time in as many weeks, West Indies walked away with a share of the spoils after they beat Australia by 14 runs to tie their two-match Twenty20 International series.

Opener and Man-of-the-Match Dwayne Smith stroked a delightful 63 but West Indies lost their way to stumble to 160 all out with two balls remaining, after winning the toss and batting at Kensington Oval Friday.

Fellow opener Johnson Charles stroked a breezy 37 but Dwayne Bravo was the only other batsman to reach double figures with 23 and it required 24 balls.

Veteran speedster Brett Lee finished with three for 23 while seamers Clint McKay (2-24) and Shane Watson (2-26) picked up two wickets apiece.

Australia then appeared on course for an easy victory when opener David Warner slammed 58 to propel the visitors to 80 for two in the 12th over.

However, off-spinner Marlon Samuels (3-23) made decisive breakthroughs before speedster Fidel Edwards (3-23) took two wickets in successive deliveries at the start of the 19th over, to help restrict the Aussies to 146 for nine off 20 overs.

The preceding five-match series finished 2-2.

--IANS/CMC

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