'I did not expect to be beaten 5-0'
published: Tuesday | July 8, 2008

West Indies coach John Dyson - Photo by LeVaughn Flynn

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

West Indies coach John Dyson never expected the regional team to slump to a series whitewash against Australia, but he paid tribute to the opponents after the hosts suffered a big defeat in the final Digicel One-Day International at Warner Park on Sunday.

The regional side suffered a massive loss by 169 runs after Australia, on the back of whirlwind half-centuries from Luke Ronchi and David Hussey, blasted 341 for eight from 50 overs.

Fifth successive victory

It paved the way for a fifth successive victory in the series by the reigning world champions.

"I expected this one-day series to be more closely fought," Dyson told reporters.

"If everything went in our favour and fell into place, we might have walked away with a 3-2 win. I was expecting it to be a 3-2 scoreline or at worst 4-1. I did not expect to be beaten 5-0."

Ronchi, sent in as a pinch-hitter at No. 3, slammed 64 off 28 balls, while Hussey belted 52 from 28 balls as Australia enjoyed a run spree.

When West Indies batted, they were undermined by a five-wicket haul from left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson and were dismissed for 172 in 39.5 overs.

Good game

"You've got to hand it to the opposition. Luke Ronchi came out and played a gem of a 50-over innings. He hit the ball magnificently. I don't think we bowled as well to him as well as we could have, but he could only hit what we give him, and he hit them darn well," Dyson said.

"That probably knocked a bit of the stuffing out of us for the rest of the day. We fought back after he made that start. If we hadn't fought back and he continued on, who knows what would have happened?

"We didn't bat well enough when we got our chance to bat. Mitchell Johnson bowled well. It's not just our fault. The opposition actually did some good things out there."