Cricket: Windies lose the wind in their sails

ADELAIDE - Australia face the minimal task of rattling off 32 runs on the final morning today to clinch their five-test cricket series against the West Indies at Adelaide Oval.

Already 2-0 up in the series, Australia were set a fourth innings target of 130 as the West Indies collapsed to be all out for 141 in their second innings on the penultimate day yesterday.

Australia were in difficulties when they tumbled for 48 for four, before an unbroken 50-run stand between Western Australians Justin Langer and Damien Martyn got the home side within sniffing distance of completing their 14th successive test victory.

The win would cap a memorable debut test as captain for wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist.

Earlier Australia lost the final first-innings wicket in the opening over of the day, to be all out for 403, giving them a 12-run lead.

But the West Indies were unable to capitalise and take the initiative as the Adelaide Oval pitch starting to give assistance to the bowlers with uneven bounce and turn for the spinners.

Tempers flared in the opening session as Australia sought to cut through the top of the West Indies order.

Having got rid of opener Sherwin Campbell and Wavell Hinds - the latter to one of the catches of the summer, by Martyn, diving to his right in the covers - Australia were sure they had opener Darren Ganga caught at the wicket off spinner Colin Miller, only to have the appeal turned down by experienced Indian official Srinivas Venkataraghavan.

Australian players were furious, Gilchrist and other Australia players looked astonished by the decision. Television replays left no doubt Ganga had hit the ball.

The Australians were further angered when Brian Lara walked down the pitch to talk to Ganga, presumably to settle the youngster, and held up play.

The pair got through to lunch at 82 for two, an overall lead of 70, before the Calypso collapse.

Lara, who had again looked in fine touch after his first-innings 182, went soon after lunch and the wickets fell in a steady procession as Miller pulled off his second five-wicket bag of the match.

Miller finished with five for 32 - a match return of 10 for 113 - as the last six wickets fell for 32 runs.

Fast bowler Glenn McGrath wrapped up the innings to finish with three for 27 while legspinner Stuart MacGill got two for 55.

Among McGrath's victims were tailender Courtney Walsh, who made his 41st test duck yesterday, enhancing his world record, 15 ahead of retired team-mate Curtly Ambrose and 17 clear of retired New Zealand fast bowler Danny Morrison.

Walsh and Mervyn Dillon kept the West Indies flag fluttering, picking up two wickets apiece to send a shiver through the Australian dressing room before Langer and Martyn settled down to share what seems likely to be the series-clinching partnership.

At stumps Langer had reached 43 and Martyn was on 18.

Meanwhile, Australian legspinner Stuart MacGill has apologised to West Indies' 12th man Ramnaresh Sarwan over an incident on the third day.

The players collided in the players' race, just off the field, as MacGill was returning to the Australian dressing room after being controversially dismissed late in the day.

Match referee Alan Smith interviewed both players and said he had warned MacGill to be more careful in future.

"MacGill regrets the collision, which he did not intend. However, he has accepted responsibility for the accident."

The incident occurred shortly after MacGill had been ruled out, caught behind, by Australian umpire Steve Davis.

TV replays showed the ball had struck MacGill's helmet, but made no contact with his bat or gloves.