Finally Pollard End 16-year Drought

Brisbane: Johnson Charles set West Indies on course for a big total and Kieron Pollard took three late wickets to guide the Twenty20 world champion to a 27-run win over Australia in a one-off match on Wednesday.

They had not beaten Australia in Australia since the Perth Test in February 1997. The only man from that contest involved in this drought-breaking match was Paul Reiffel, then a fast bowler, now an umpire.

In international cricket, a win is a win, and this win brought relief for a group of men who have been disappointed with their own efforts over the past two weeks.

Charles scored 57 from 48 balls as West Indies posted 191-6.

With Australia's 17-man test squad already in India, the second-string lineup was always under pressure despite a recent 5-0 ODI series sweep against West Indies.

They were on track during a 74-run second-wicket partnership between Adam Voges (51) and Shaun Marsh (21) before both were run out within four balls as Australia dropped from 79-1 to finish at 164-8 after 20 overs.

Pollard just missed a hat trick in his late spell, and returned 3-30.

Earlier, opener Johnson Charles scored a blistering 57 runs off just 35 balls to lead the West Indies to an imposing 191 for six.

Charles took control after fellow opener Chris Gayle (8) failed once again, hitting seven fours and a six to dominate the Australians, who went into the match with five fast bowlers and no spin option.

Left armer James Faulkner was the pick of the attack, with 3-28 from his four overs, but the other four seamers were all expensive on a flat batting track.

Gayle, who was out of form in the five one-day internationals, was given a life in the first over when Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin spilled a simple chance.

He looked to take full advantage as he blasted Josh Hazlewood for six over cover in the next over.

However, Gayle tried to hit a second six on the next ball and was spectacularly caught in the deep by Nathan Coulter-Nile, who ran backwards before thrusting his left hand over his head and somehow holding on as he crashed to the ground.

Any thoughts Australia had of keeping the West Indies under control were soon ended by a brilliant partnership from Charles and Darren Bravo, who added 88 in quick time before Johnson played on to Coulter-Nile.

Bravo followed soon after when he was run out for 32 following a dreadful mix up with Kieron Pollard which left both batsmen stranded at the non-striker's end.

Pollard was looking dangerous until he miscued a drive off Faulkner and holed out to Sean Marsh at long on, with Darren Bravo (13) clean bowled two balls later.

But Darren Sammy (20) and Andre Russell (23 not out) took the Australian attack apart towards the end, smashing 35 runs off the last two overs.

Brief scores
West Indies 6 for 191 (Charles 57, Faulkner 3-28)
Australia 8 for 164 (Voges 51, Pollard 3-30, Narine 2-19)
Result West Indies won by 27 runs
MOM Kieron Pollard (West Indies)