Rain ruins West Indian march

West Indies 9 for 263 (Hinds 107, Chanderpaul 45, Gillespie 3-62) v Australia 5 for 43 (Collins 3-8) - No result (rain)
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Brisbane rain spoiled Australia's chances in the inaugural Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in December, but today they were saved some serious blushes against West Indies by two thunderstorms at the Gabba. Stuck in deep trouble at 5 for 43, Australia tiptoed from the ground relieved to escape a severe beating, if not a drenching.

Desperate for a win to stay close to second-placed Pakistan, West Indies were bouncing after snapping up early wickets while defending a sub-par total that grew in competitiveness as the Duckworth/Lewis Method came into play. However, their hopes were sapped by the 141-minute break, with Australia hobbling at 2 for 12, and crushed by the abandonment, when the West Indian bowlers had them on the mat. Pedro Collins, who collected three searing wickets, and Wavell Hinds deserved to be the most hurt.

With the target reduced to 195 in 28 overs, Australia lost two wickets in quick succession: Ricky Ponting was first trapped by a Collins inswinger before Andrew Symonds nibbled at one in the same over (4 for 26). Symonds has five ducks in his past six innings, but the run - or lack of runs - was the least of Australia's concerns. Everyone in the home dressing-room wanted the heavens to open again as Michael Clarke bunted a pull straight to Marlon Samuels at mid-on (5 for 30). Australia's wishes were granted 13 runs later, and as the players left the ground for the final time the only clapping came from the thunder.

The chase began poorly when the comebacks of Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist ended in similar ways, for identical scores. Hayden, refreshed from a week spent surfing cyclonic waves, still had his feet stuck in the sand when he played away from his body and edged Collins for 6 (1 for 8). Ian Bradshaw, the second piece in the left-arm opening pair, then induced an edge from Gilchrist with a terrific outswinger (2 for 12).

An over later Kevin Mitchell junior, the curator, tractored his covers on to the field with the players taking their positions and the umpires conferring. A bulky man, Mitchell eventually convinced everyone, including the reluctant West Indians, to leave the arena before the first strikes of lightning and stand-shaking thunder.

There were few shudders in the West Indies innings as Hinds, who adopted a batting style reminiscent of openers in the 1980s, anchored them to 263. Top-order batting has evolved over the years and batsmen playing themselves in during a one-day game now carries antiquated connotations. Hinds managed a fair combination as he tortoised while Chris Gayle hared, and discovered a smoother roller-blading motion as the innings wore on, finishing with 107 off 138 balls.

Taking 88 balls to reach his half-century, Hinds increased the tempo in the second half with some powerful shots, particularly to midwicket, to collect his fifth ODI century. Both openers caused Australia trouble - Gayle rocketed West Indies to 22 in two overs - but Hinds was the slow-burning candle, lasting into the 48th over until he skyed Shane Watson to Adam Gilchrist (6 for 253).

Each time West Indies started moving ahead Australia dragged them back. Shivnarine Chanderpaul was as lively as the music that greeted his entrance, even though his only boundary was a six over midwicket off Symonds. Crabbing his way to 45 off 48 balls, Chanderpaul increased the scoring rate, and his 89-run partnership with Hinds threatened to do more than sparkle until he picked out Ponting at cover off Michael Kasprowicz (4 for 181).

Kasprowicz's next significant moment came with the amazing run-out of Marlon Samuels, the victim of a mix-up with Hinds. Running in from point, Damien Martyn threw to the bowler's end, where Kasprowicz collected it off balance about two metres from the wickets. As he fell, Kasprowicz flicked the ball behind him on to the middle stump (5 for 210). A second piece of brilliance came when he dived forward for a stunning catch off Dwayne Bravo at long-off (7 for 260).

Playing on his home ground, Kasprowicz's bowling was also accurate and restrictive, while Gillespie proved expensive in his return from a calf injury, despite picking up three wickets. Ponting gave Brett Lee only four overs at the start, and called him back when Brian Lara came in. He quickly got his man to a doubtful Simon Taufel decision.

Lara was on 6 when he rocked back to drive Lee through cover, and the Australians appealed in unison as the ball went through to Gilchrist. But replays showed it wasn't close to the bat, and Lara stood his ground for several seconds before trudging off. He also fought to stay when the rain came, and suffered another unfortunate result.