'Blind' WI pull off series win

West Indies' Visually Impaired (blind) cricketers have done what their sighted counterparts have failed to do in years - defeat Australia in a one-day international series.

The team, which is coached by Jamaican Vivalyn Latty-Scott and includes six Jamai-cans, achieved the feat after defeating the men from Down Under in the first two games of their three-match series in Barbados on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In the first game played at Hoyte's Village, West Indies won by four wickets on the back of a man-of-the-match performance from Jamaica's Gregory Stewart, while in the second game played at Spartan the maroon-clad standard bearers triumphed by an impressive 93 runs.

At Hoyte's Village, Australia first made 216-5, with Owen McCarthy getting 81 not out against Stewart 2-32. The West Indies then replied with 217-7 with Stewart getting 77.

At Spartan, the West Indies batted first and posted a challenging 320, with Jenson Poyah scoring 84 and Lushane Myles 54. Australia were then limited to 227-8 despite 100 from Lance Hoberly.

After the ODI series, which was slated to end yesterday, the teams will turn their attention to a two-match Twenty20 series scheduled for today and tomorrow.

The West Indies team features six members of Jamaica's victorious team, which won the just-concluded regional 40-over and Twenty20 competitions.

They are Toussaint Gardner (captain)), Daemion McLean, Dwayne Graham, Gregory Stewart, Lushane Myles and Dennol Shim.

The Jamaicans are scheduled to return home next Monday.