Cricket: Australia pulled to victory by Bevan

West Indies 172-9 Australia 173-9 Australia win by one wicket

Michael Bevan struck a last-ball four to condemn the West Indies to a one-wicket defeat in yesterday's World Series Cup match against Australia in Sydney.

The Australian all-rounder despatched the final delivery from Roger Harper to settle a day-night match reduced to 43 overs because of rain. He finished on 78, his highest international limited overs score, as Australia reached 173 for 9 in reply to the West Indies' 172 for 9.

Until Bevan's innings, Australia looked to be heading for a defeat that would have wrecked their perfect record in the competition, slumping to 38 for 6 in the 16th over. Bevan, who has yet to be dismissed in four World Series innings, struck six boundaries in his 89-ball innings and shared in an eighth-wicket partnership of 83 with Paul Reiffel to lead Australia within sight of victory.

Reiffel, who also took 4 for 29, contributed 34 before falling in the penultimate over. In the pulsating climax, Glenn McGrath scampered a quick single to give Bevan the strike for the final two deliveries. Bevan failed to score off the first of these balls before charging down the pitch to smash the last delivery to the boundary.

Earlier, the West Indies innings was similarly rescued by Carl Hooper, who scored an unbeaten 93 off 99 balls after his side slipped to 54 for 5.

The West Indians, who have now won only one of their 10 tour matches since arriving in Australia early last month, were fined 10 per cent of their match fee for a slow over rate.

Sri Lanka, the third team in the competition, are in second place behind Australia.

WORLD SERIES (Sydney): West Indies 172 for 9 (43 overs, C L Hooper 93no); Australia 173 for 9 (43 overs, M G Bevan 78no). Australia won by one wicket.

n Australia have recalled batsman Dean Jones, naming him in a preliminary 18-man squad for the World Cup. However, the Victoria state captain's return might be brief as selectors will cut the squad to 14 players on 22 January for the tournament in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India during February and March.

AUSTRALIAN SQUAD (for World Cup): M Taylor (capt), M Slater, M Waugh, S Waugh, D Jones, M Bevan, S Law, R Ponting, S Lee, G Blewett, I Healy, P Reiffel, C McDermott, M Kasprowicz, G McGrath, D Fleming, S Warne, T May.