It's beginner's pluck as Pup skippers a ripper

THE comment was made in jest, but the sentiment was unmistakable. Shortly after his Australian side had snatched a one-run victory over the West Indies in the fourth one-day international at Warner Park, a local reporter prefaced a question to Michael Clarke with: "If Australia win on Sunday …"

"When we win on Sunday," Clarke interjected in a tone part humorous, part ominous. He might be just one match into his career as limited-overs captain, but he already appears to have inherited the hubris and swagger of his forebears.

During a match in which the West Indies often held the ascendancy, Clarke insisted his faith was never shaken. Indeed, when the hosts entered the final three overs requiring just 13 runs for victory with six wickets in hand, the rookie captain expressed supreme confidence his bowlers would somehow do the job and keep alive Australia's hopes of a 5-0 series whitewash on Sunday.

Whether genuine or forged, his confidence appeared to lift his bowlers. Brett Lee (3-64) and Nathan Bracken (1-50) delivered superb ripostes to the West Indian batsmen, combining for figures of 2-5 from the 48th and 49th overs, including the vital wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul. And Shane Watson limited the unheralded pair of Darren Sammy and Dinesh Ramdin to just six singles from the final over, sealing a victory many felt was beyond even the Australians' formidable grasp.

"I never thought it was gone," Clarke said. "We wanted to always believe that we could win the game."

Unlike the West Indies. Led by Chris Gayle (92), Ramnaresh Sarwan (63) and Chanderpaul (53), the hosts were entitled to win the match, and win it well. An attainable run rate, a true pitch, a small outfield and wickets in hand all apparently pointed to a West Indian victory, only for Sammy and Ramdin to suffer an acute case of stage fright in the final over. Self-belief, it seemed, was in short supply.

Despite a brilliant innings, a despondent Gayle was left to beg the pardon of the large St Kitts crowd, who took advantage of the public holiday that coincided with the match and turned out in strong numbers.

"We thought we could have got it," Gayle said. "I should have carried on and saw the team home. I apologise for the loss."

A 137-run second-wicket partnership between Gayle and Sarwan threatened to take the match away from the tourists. However, wickets fell at regular enough intervals thereafter to provide Clarke with a faint glimmer of hope.

Michael Hussey's sublime, diving catch to remove debutant Shawn Findlay in the 48th over wrested much of the momentum back Australia's way, and the dismissal of Chanderpaul 10 balls later broke the spirits of the young West Indian batsmen. The Windies finished with 6-281 from their 50 overs.

Earlier, a century partnership between man of the match Andrew Symonds and debutant David Hussey guided Australia to a robust 8-282.

Symonds finished with 87 off 78 balls and Hussey contributed an even 50 off 51 balls.