Australia had to struggle hard for a draw on the fifth and the final day of the second test match at Adelaide against West Indies. With this, the Aussies still lead in the series 1-0, and the sides move to Perth to play the third test match at WACA.
Starting the final day with a lead of 296, the tourists batted on to add 30 odd runs, as Gayle carried his bat with an unbeaten 165. West Indies lost their last two wickets as Mitchell Johnson picked up a fifer, as the Aussies were set a target of 330 for a win off 81 overs – difficult on a spin taking final day’s track.
Simon Katich started out aggressively, but was dismissed by Dwayne Bravo when he tried to hit one shot too many. Ricky Ponting also looked good in his innings of 20, before Ravi Rampaul had him bowled off an inside-edge and then, after a 46-run stand with Michael Hussey, opener Shane Watson pulled one from Darren Sammy straight into the hands of Bravo to leave the Aussies at 114/3.
At this stage, a victory seemed very difficult given that the pitch had begun to afford reverse swing for the medium pace bowlers and Bravo was extracting every bit of it. What did not help the Aussies were the two quick wickets of Hussey and Marcus North, both to reverse-swinging out-swingers. Hussey edged one to the wicket-keeper, whereas North drove the ball straight to the slips.
In the end, Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin saw the Aussies home with a draw, but the honours on the day had belonged to the West Indies.
Gayle was declared the man of the match for his brilliant captain’s innings of 165, despite Dwayne Bravo’s century and three wickets to boot.