Clark's career-best spell leads Australia to win over Windies

Fast bowler Stuart Clark grabbed a career-best five for 32 to lead Australia to a 95-run victory over West Indies on the final day Monday of the opening cricket test at Sabina Park.

West Indies, overnight 46 for one in pursuit of 287, was bowled out for 191 midway through the second session.

The 32-year-old Clark and fellow pacer Brett Lee (two for 81) ripped through the top order to set the tone on the final day.

``The wicket was good for bowling. It was a little bit up and down. It's nice conditions here,'' said Clark, who was named man of the match. ``I think it was my day today.''

Legspinner Stuart MacGill added a brilliant run out and sealed the win with two wickets in successive deliveries.

Australia scored 431 and 267 and West Indies 312 and 191.

Denesh Ramdin topscored in the second innings with 36 while Darren Sammy (35) and Daren Powell (27) provided some lower order resistance.

Clark, who dismissed Brenton Parchment on Sunday afternoon, struck again in the day's third over, claiming the key wicket of captain Ramnaresh Sarwan for 12.

Sarwan hit an exquisite cover drive to the boundary but perished in the same over when he got a leading edge to an on-drive at 55-2. Andrew Symonds leapt high at extra cover to reel in the catch on the second attempt.

Opener Devon Smith fell five runs later to Clark, playing no stroke to an in-cutter to be plumb leg before. The left-hander hit three fours in 27 off 77 balls.

Veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Runako Morton, who shared a century stand in the first innings, could not repeat their defiance.

Lee, in the middle of a hostile spell, was rewarded with the wicket of Morton, who missed a drive and was leg before for 9 at 74-4.

The West Indies wobble continued when Dwayne Bravo fell for a duck, chipping a catch into the leg-side trap set by captain Ricky Ponting to give Clark his fourth victim.

Lee provided the key scalp of Chanderpaul for 11 three balls later as Australia closed in on victory at 82-6.

The gritty left-hander, who hit a heroic 118 in the first innings, tried to attack off the back foot and provided a low return catch.

Source: Hindu