Sammy’s heroics couldn’t save Windies

Despite the heroics of Captain Darren Sammy whose surname was on every St Lucian tongue Sunday during his magnificent display at bat, the Windies just couldn’t accommodate a sell out crowd and sent them home not overly satisfied but content, having drawn the five match One Day Series with the powerful Aussies.
West Indies lost the fifth and final One Day International Sunday at the Beausejour Cricket ground by 30 runs, after what seemed an improbable but for awhile plausible comeback courtesy of Sammy, who turned the BCG into a carnival atmosphere. He racked up 84 runs in rapid succession with six fours and six sixes from 50 balls.
Faced with a target of 282 for victory, things did not look good for the Windies who at one point were 118 for seven. They battled back, however, their last glimmer of hope Darren Sammy was dismissed with 16 balls remaining.
Sammy who displayed a never say die attitude would later say: “At no point did I think defeat. I was never going to give up. My aim was to keep batting and try to push them off us. At seven down for 118 we were behind but we weren’t out.
Sammy had high praise for the ailing Andre Russell with who he put on a record eighth wicket stand of 101 in 10 overs.
“I had Russell there with me and we all know what he is capable of,” said Sammy. “He was playing with a knee that was giving him much pain, but boy he did a great job. He bowled well, he was great in the outfield and he came out and batted bravely.”
The five match Digicel ODI Series ended 2-2 after the Australians won the first match by 64 runs, West Indies won the second match by five wickets, the third was drawn, Windies won the fourth by 42 runs.
On Tuesday both teams were paired up again but this time around it was for a Twenty20 encounter at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.