While chasing 221 to win, the hosts were reeling at 78 for 5 in the 21st over, with all the big guns, including the likes of Marlon Samuels, Darren Bravo and Dwayne Bravo, back in the pavilion. But the lower order, led by the hard-hitting Kieron Pollard, kept their nerves and clawed their way back, as the last five wickets amassed almost 150 runs to salvage a draw.
"The lower order kept us in the game and credit must go to them for the way they played,” said Gibson while speaking to media reporters after the match.
“We keep showing the fight that we have spoken about for a long time and we are seeing signs of improvement. Our fielding effort and our bowling performance today were outstanding,” the Windies coach added further.
Reminiscing about West Indies’ last home series against Australia in 2008, Gibson said that the five-match ODI series was already over after the first three games, and the tourists went on to win the series 5-0. Gibson added that this time they are still in with a chance of winning the series, which according to the Windies coach, is a very good sign for Caribbean cricket.
Gibson however, was a bit disappointed at faltering at the end.
"We should have won today and we have quite a few disappointed boys in the dressing room at the moment," Gibson said. "But, look at it this way, we didn't lose the match and we are still in with a great chance of winning the series.”
The hosts entered the final over of the match needing just seven runs to win, with one wicket in hand. Sammy hit a boundary on the third ball of the over to level the score, and they need a solitary run of three-balls. On the very next ball, Kemar Roach threw away his wicket, and he was run-out while attempting a suicidal single and the match ended in a draw.
The final two games of the series will be played at St. Lucia on March 23 and 25.
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