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Rain the winner as 2nd Test ends in draw

3 minute read

Rain has ensured the second Test between Australia and the West Indies ended in a draw in Trinidad despite another sporting declaration by Michael Clarke.

Not even Australia captain Michael Clarke could defy the rain gods as the second Test with the West Indies ended in a draw on Thursday.

Clarke, who declared 43 runs behind to set-up Australia's first Test win in Barbados last week, did his best to once again force a result in Trinidad by ending Australia's second innings at 8-160 shortly after lunch, challenging the Windies to chase down 215 for victory off 61 overs.

As a grandstand finish loomed with the Windies racing to 2-53 off 11 overs, rain fell once more at Queen's Park Oval, this time ending the match for good.

Ben Hilfenhaus (2-22) had removed openers Adrian Barath (5) and Kieran Powell (4) to reduce the hosts to 2-13 before Windies skipper Darren Sammy belted an unbeaten 30 off just 26 balls before the heavens opened.

The draw means Australia take an unbeatable 1-0 series lead into next week's third Test in Dominica and retain the Frank Worrell Trophy.

"We probably needed at least 60 overs to bowl them out on that wicket, which certainly gave them a chance to try and win the Test," Clarke said of his declaration.

"I wasn't really looking at that, I was looking at how best we could win the Test.

"Unfortunately the rain's cost both teams, I think it would have been a really good finish to a tough Test match."

Resuming on 3-73, Australia could only manage to add 50 runs in a 25-over first session on day five with Ricky Ponting and Clarke both falling.

Ponting was caught at square leg trying to hook fast bowler Fidel Edwards (1-28), ensuring the Barbadian ended the Test with one wicket after missing the edge several times in both innings.

Sammy (1-17) then chipped in with a sharp reaction catch off his own bowling to remove Clarke for 15 and leave Australia 5-95.

After lunch, Windies fast bowler Kemar Roach removed Michael Hussey (24) and Hilfenhaus (0) in quick succession to claim his second five-for of the game and become the first Windies bowler in seven years to take 10 wickets in a match.

Roach's match figures of 10-146 were enough to earn him the man of the match prize on a day when two of Australia's fast bowlers went home from the Caribbean due to back injuries.

Both Peter Siddle and James Pattinson will be unavailable for the third Test, leaving Clarke with Ryan Harris, Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Starc as his pace options for Dominica.

After the Test Sammy revealed Edwards was also struggling with a back issue while the Windies have dumped legspinner Devendra Bishoo from their squad and released injured batsman Kirk Edwards.

Guyanese left-hander Assad Fudadin comes into the side and will make his Test debut if selected in Dominica.

The third Test begins on Monday from 10am (0000 Tuesday AEST).

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