Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder scored brilliant fifties to guide West Indies to a four-wicket victory over Australia in the second One-day International at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados. With this win, the hosts levelled the three-match ODI series 1-1.

After bowling out Australia for a mere 187, the West Indies overhauled the target in 38 overs after a top-order collapse prompted by the Australian bowlers. However, the hosts weren’t giving in easily.

Both Pooran and Holder kept the scoreboard ticking and hot occasional boundaries to help the home side get a victory. During his 75-ball 59, Pooran hit 2 boundaries and as many sixes.

Holder, on the other hand, during his 69-ball 52, hit five boundaries and one maximum.

For Australia, Mitchell Starc finished with figures of 3/26 in his 10 overs. He was complemented by spinner Adam Zampa, who finished with figures of 2/43 in 9 overs.

Earlier, Australia’s Wes Agar, who was not in the original 11, made the most of the unexpected opportunity to top score with 41 in his second ODI.

He dominated a partnership of 59 for the ninth wicket with Adam Zampa and was last out, having given his team a fighting chance. Zampa and Matthew Wade, who both scored 36, had started the Australian recovery with a seventh-wicket stand of 51.

Spinner Akeal Hosein and pacer Alzarri Joseph took three wickets each for a West Indies team that must win this fixture to keep the series alive going into the final match of the series now scheduled for Monday.

Pooran, who was adjudged man of the match, dedicated his match-winning performance to his wife.

“It was a bit tricky, you couldn’t drive the ball properly, so you just had to fight and fight. I was just trying to back my strengths and my abilities to hit hard and go over. Jason had a clear plan to defend off the back foot and it worked tonight. I work day in and day out,” he said.

“I just look to get better each day. I am getting a lot of experience now and I just look to eliminate my mistakes. Jason, Cottrell, Akeal bowled fantastically. We gave them too many runs. We gave Australia a chance with our misfields and we didn’t want to do that,” he added.