Half-centuries from Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder powered West Indies to a four-wicket win with 12 overs to spare over Australia on Saturday night (July 24) to level their three-match ODI series in Barbados.

The home side made heavy weather of a relatively modest chase of 187 on a tricky pitch in Bridgetown after their bowlers once again combined to limit the Australians.

Pooran, who was unbeaten on 59 at the end and Jason Holder stitched together a record sixth-wicket partnership of 93 that took the West Indies within sight of victory after they had slipped to a precarious 72-5 inside the 15th over.

Mitchell Starc bowling fast and accurately, struck early, trapping Evin Lewis lbw for 1 and then bowled Darren Bravo for a first-ball duck with consecutive deliveries to have the West Indies in early trouble at 11-2 after three overs.

Adam Zampa bowled Jason Mohammed for 11 and then Shai Hope gave his wicket away to debutant Ashton Turner’s second delivery, needlessly advancing down the wicket only to be beaten and bowled for 38 by one that spun away.

Zampa took his second wicket when he bowled Kieron Pollard for two.

Holder and Pooran, who was dropped twice, rode their luck in the partnership that took the West Indies within sight of victory.  Starc, who finished with figures of 3-26 from 10 excellent overs, eventually trapped Holder lbw for 52 but by then the West Indies were almost home.

Pooran, who was voted Man of the Match, struck two sixes and two fours in his knock that consumed 75 balls and helped stabilized a sinking West Indies ship against incisive Australian bowling.

Zampa finished with figures of 2-43 and Turner 1-47.

Earlier Akeal Hosein took 3-30 and Alzarri Joseph 3-39 to reduce Australia to 45-6.

However, the visitors staged a revival courtesy of a lower order rally that saw Matthew Wade and Adam Zampa each produce a score of 36 before an excellent late cameo from Wes Agar, who made 41 from 36 deliveries.

Agar and Zampa took the score from 128-8 to 187 before Australia each lost his wicket in consecutive deliveries from Sheldon Cottrell and Joseph, respectively.

West Indies captain Kieron Pollard was disappointed that his side allowed Australia to reach 187 but praised Pooran’s determination.

“What was good this time around was the fight by the guys, Nicholas Pooran getting that half-century and Jason Holder as well,” Pollard said.

“Pooran has been looking like his old self again. He was a bit scratchy tonight but sometimes that’s what you need in a game like this. You want someone to scrap and I think they both scrapped well for us to come through for a victory.”

Pooran’s innings also took him past 1,000 ODI runs, becoming the 39th West Indian player to achieve the feat and the joint-third fastest for the side. Viv Richards scored his first 1000 ODI runs from 21 matches, Gordon Greenidge (23) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (27).

Australia captain Alex Carey was eagerly anticipating the deciding game on Monday.

“Bring on game three. The batting group has a bit to prove to get a good score on the board for our quicks but our quicks and spinners are doing a great job,” he said.

“Obviously it doesn’t help when you’re five for not-a-lot. Wade and the bowlers did a great job to get us to a total and we were back in the game. We took some early wickets again and the belief was there. We created opportunities and we were in the game in the back end. Unfortunately, we couldn’t quite close it out and it proved we were 20 or 30 short.”

Scores: Australia 187 from 47.1 overs. West Indies 191-6 in 38 overs.