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They were standing five, six rows deep, sitting on walls, peering keenly between steps, and even perched luxuriantly in trees by the seashore. Arnos Vale was ready to go bananas.

And when Keith Arthurton's direct hit at the non-striker's end torpedoes the hopes of Australian last man Damien Fleming, it did.

Like crazy ants the natives swarmed the field, even before the third umpire had made his ruling. When the light finally flashed red, a fresh party was started, to celebrate a spirited West Indies win in this first 1999 Cable and Wireless one-day encounter. One that halted a run of five One-day losses.

The recently planted banana trees lining the strip that leads to the ground, their broad leaves glinting in the afternoon sunshine, also seemed ready to celebrate. And Brian Lara's team were worthy of the ovation and their 44-run win.

It was a victory that seemed unlikely when asked to bat first, the Windies made just 209 in 48.1 overs. Then the Aussies still on course at 99 for three, the home side prised out four wickets in the space of three overs and 10 runs.

In his post-match comments, visiting captain Steve Waugh lay the blame on his batsmen. True in part.

But the difference between West Indian victory and Aussie defeat, the reason for the ``Vincy'' fete at the end was also the 35 extras that Waugh's bowlers sent down, some 20 of them being wides. The difference was also the 35 overs that WI opener Sherwin Campbell occupied in making his foundation-building 62 and the generally sharp fielding that accounted for two run outs. But a morale-boasting triumph was also due to the four wickets of Man of the Match Henderson Bryan.

The day had not gone well for the 29-year-old debutante when Lara gave him the ball first change in the tenth over. His first knock for WI had lasted two balls before he was lbw to Shane Warne. But perhaps receiving his West Indies cap before the start of the Australia run chase inspired Hendy.

Bowling with the control and variation that brought him 21 wickets in the Busta Cup, Bryan stifled the batsmen in his stint of 10-1-24-4. But even more crucially for his team defending a gettable total, he got rid of three key players in quick time.

Those wickets fell in a dizzying period for the expectant crowd. By the time the Bajan had bowled captain off the inside edge, had dangerous Michael Bevan edging a drive to wicketkeeper Jimmy Adams and bemused Shane Lee, offering no shot to a ball that swung back and hit his off-stump, the police were already circling the ground. Those dismissals plus Lara's direct hit from mid wicket that took care of Darren Lehmann caused near bedlam. The souls prancing on the roof of the rickety refreshment stall had to be removed, for safety's sake.

But the emotional response, with the total standing at 109 for seven, had been caused by concerted effort and pressure by the home side.

Opening bowler Mervyn Dillon had set the tone at the start when, in the fourth over, he got left-handed Adam Gilchrist to snick his lifting delivery outside off-stump to Adams with the score just six.

Dillon, bowling with purpose, also got Ricky Ponting (23) whose, mis-timed skied pull was held by Stuart Williams despite his collision with Courtney Walsh at mid-wicket.

Ponting's wicket made it 60 for three with he and Mark Waugh (28) having gone when well-placed.

The Aussies came to rue the lack of a sheet anchor, especially when number eight, Brendon Julien inspired hope with his level-headed 42-ball 35.

But at the end, Lara was even more grateful for the work of his anchor, Campbell.

Only the party-hearty folk in the Guinness stand were still buoyant when Lara left the scene, 35 overs and many runs too soon when WI batted.

But their optimism was not justified.

Too often the barometer for his sides's batting success, the SS West Indies seemed about to sink once the captain departed early.

Lara's 16 came in a total of just 209. And not even the very good work done by Campbell (62) 105 balls and Jimmy Adams 20, 49 balls in their third wicket stands of 76 was enough to compensate for his early departure.

The early moisture in the pitch and the movement made the going far more circumspect than the crowd wished.

The impressive Damian Flemming three for 41 was particularly effecting early on and was rewarded with the wicket of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, well caught by Paul Reiffel at deep fine leg off.

Captain Waugh fell comfortably enough to employ two slips as late as the 20th over. But then, Lara, after 30 balls of circumspection in which time he added 37 in eight overs with Campbell, played a bad shot, uppish drive off medium pacer Shane Lee that was well caught by diving Michael Bevan at mid off.

They may seem an unlikely pair to launch a One-day revival. But Campbell and Adams defied the critics with skillful sensible cricket. Even though their stand was eventually ended by a run out mix up, the partnership was characterised by several well judged sharp singles that kept the score moving.

Campbell, justifying in this game at least, his World Cup selection was the foil, Adams the more enterprising. In quick time, the left handed had collected three elegant looking driven boundaries. Two of them in succession off Leigh.

But as the stand wore on, boundary hitting became more difficult. Shane Warne, hit out of the Test team by Lara and company, was spot on in this ODI, giving nothing away with tight but varied bowling. It was not until number nine, Nehemiah Perry flicked Lee to the fine leg in the 41st over that the next boundary was hit.

But by then, the innings was in strife at 152 for seven. Adams had gone, Campbell and Arthurton (10 were bowled by Lee and a Warne googly respectively and Bryan was lbw to Warne second ball.

But Perry, assisting Phil Simmons, applied damage control with a ninth wicket partnership of 40 before he was well held by Ricky Ponting off Julian's bowling.

Simmons though, not taking many risks eked out 18 more with Dillon before his powerful drive off was well held by Mark Waugh at extra cover. He left for a useful 25. His brilliant tumbling stop from a rasping Lehamann pull also raised a cheer. Next ball Bryan got the Aussie captain.

The world may be ganging up on Caribbean bananas. But yesterday at least, foreign domination was stopped.