West Indies lose only tour match before 1st test against Australia by 10 wickets

BRISBANE, Australia _ The West Indies lost their only tour match ahead of the first test against Australia by 10 wickets to a Cricket Australia XI featuring six players making their first-class debuts.

The visitors were all out for 210 early Saturday to set the Cricket Australia side just 10 runs for victory, a total they achieved _ 13 runs without loss _ in 2.5 overs.

The West Indies, which won the toss of the four-day match, scored 243 and 210 while the home side’s first innings totalled 444.

Captain Jason Holder top-scored with 65 in the second innings, sharing a 79-run eighth-wicket stand with tail-ender Kemar Roach (36).

Legspinner Cameron Boyce took 4-84 and paceman Ryan Lees had 3-68 against the near full-strength visitors.

The first test begins Thursday in Hobart and Holder admitted his inexperienced team would face a difficult task trying to beat the No. 2-ranked Australians. The teams will play two more tests in Melbourne beginning Dec. 26 and in Sydney from Jan. 3.

“Obviously we are going to cop a bit of criticism but we need to improve, no doubt about it,” Holder said. “We are at a stage now where we need to make strides forward. We have been stagnant the last few months. We need to pick ourselves up, look ourselves in the mirror and find something in ourselves.”

The West Indies has not won an overseas test series against anyone except Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in 20 years. Beginning in 1980, the Caribbean side had a 15-year unbeaten test streak.

The Associated Press