Australia lose rain-affected cricket Twenty20 with Windies

Australia lost their unblemished Caribbean tour record as the West Indies completed a seven-wicket victory in a rain-affected Twenty20 International on Friday.

Defending a victory target of 98 from 11 overs, Australia failed to keep a lid on the West Indies, and the home team won with 11 balls to spare, when Dwayne Bravo scooped a short, rising ball from Shane Watson over mid-wicket for six.

Australia's bowlers were under the cosh from the outset with Xavier Marshall smashing three fours and three sixes in 36 from 15 balls to get his side off to a flourishing start.

Australia's new-ball pair of Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson were battered into submission, when Marshall put on 53 from 21 balls with international newcomer William Perkins for the opening stand.

The Australians then grabbed three wickets in the space of 13 balls to leave West Indies 64 for three.

But Bravo struck 28 from 15 balls to lead West Indies to their target.

Play started almost two and a half hours late because of rain throughout the day in the island and the match was reduced to 11 overs-a-side.

Australia got away to an enterprising start, when Shaun Marsh and Luke Ronchi put on 57 for the first wicket.

Ronchi led the way with 36 from 22 balls and Marsh supported with 29 from 22 balls, but Australia lost three wickets in the space of 14 balls and this slowed their progress.

International newcomer Kemar Roach was the most successful West Indies bowler with two wickets for 29 runs from three overs.

The two sides now face each other in a five-match One-day International series, starting on Tuesday at Arnos Vale Sports Complex in St. Vincent.

Scoreboard
Australia
S. Marsh                                                                                         c Marshall b Roach               29
L. Ronchi                                                                                        c Taylor b Roach                 36
S. Watson                                                                                        not out                          17
D. Hussey                                                                                        c Perkins b Bravo                0
C. White                                                                                         not out                          10
Extras                                                                                           lb2, w2, nb1                     5
Total                                                                                            for 3 wkts                       97
Fall of wkts                                                                                     1-57, 2-72, 3-72
Bowling
Taylor 2-0-23-0 (w1), Benn 2-0-19-0 (w1), Edwards 2-0-12-0, Roach 3-0-29-2 (nb1), Bravo 2-0-12-1
Overs                                                                                            11
West Indies
X. Marshall                                                                                      run out                          36
W. Perkins                                                                                       run out                          9
D. Ramdin                                                                                        c Johnson b Watson               8
D. Bravo                                                                                         not out                          28
A. Fletcher                                                                                      not out                          6
Extras                                                                                           b6, lb2, w7                      15
Total                                                                                            for 3 wkts                       102
Fall of wkts                                                                                     1-53, 2-59, 3-64
Bowling
Lee 2-0-26-0 (w1), Johnson 2-0-30-0 (w1), Watson 2.1-0-17-1, Hopes 2-0-13-0, White 1-0-8-0 (w2)
Overs                                                                                            9.1
Result                                                                                           West Indies win by seven wickets
Man of the Match                                                                                 Xavier Marshall (West Indies)