The Australian bowlers put on a splendid all-round show as they knocked over the West Indies for a mere total of 152. All the bowlers shared the spoils. Chasing a paltry total, Matthew Wade scored an unbeaten half-century to take Australia over the line with 19.3 overs to spare.
Australia produced a clinical performance in the series decider to clinch the series 2-1. The bowlers set up the win as they blew away the West Indies for a paltry total of 152. Kieron Pollard and co. were once again poor with the bat, and it cost them heavily.
After opting to bat first, West Indies didn’t have the best of starts. Evin Lewis was hit on the head by a Josh Hazlewood bouncer in the fourth over. The left-handed opener walked off after that blow. Shimron Hetmyer walked in and couldn’t last long. He chopped one back onto his stumps in the eighth over as Hazlewood gave Australia their first breakthrough.
West Indies could muster 37 runs in the powerplay, and Shai Hope struggled throughout. After the powerplay, once the spinners came into the attack, the West Indies batters had no answers. Ashton Agar picked up the wickets of Shai Hope and Darren Bravo while Ashton Turner knocked over Nicholas Pooran.
Skipper Pollard was prized out by Mitchell Starc in the 22nd over. West Indies were reeling at 71/5, and that’s when Lewis walked out to bat again. He had passed the concussion test. Adam Zampa got rid of Jason Holder in the very next over to leave the hosts at 75/6.
Lewis went out on the attack and scored a few useful boundaries. He stitched a 44-run stand alongside Alzarri Joseph, who scored 15 off 42 balls. Lewis helped himself to a half-century, but the fun didn’t last long as Hazlewood and Starc blew away the lower order as West Indies were bowled out for 152 in 45.1 overs.
Hazlewood finished with a couple of wickets while Starc took three, finishing the series with a tally of 11 scalps. Agar and Zampa picked up two wickets each as well.
In reply, Australia lost a couple of early wickets. Akeal Hosein got the wicket of Moises Henriques (1), who was promoted to open the batting in the third over. His opening partner Josh Phillipe didn’t bat long either as Joseph had him nicking one to the keeper, and Australia were 27/2 in the 8th over.
However, stand-in skipper Alex Carey and Mitchell Marsh steadied the ship and put on 38 runs for the third wicket, with the latter contributing 29 off 21 balls, which included three sixes. Sheldon Cottrell got West Indies the much-needed breakthrough as he dismissed Marsh in the 14th over and ended his counter-attacking knock. Carey scored 35 before Hayden Walsh had him LBW.
Australia were tentatively placed at 99/4 when Carey was dismissed. Matthew Wade was already batting on 18, and he took the responsibility of taking Australia through. The left-hander scored an unbeaten 51 off 52 balls (five fours and two sixes) and shared an unbroken 54-run stand with Ashton Agar to guide the Aussies home with 117 balls to spare. Agar chipped in with 19 not out.
This was Australia’s third successive series win in this ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League, and they have now accumulated 60 points from nine games which places them third on the Super League points table. West Indies are at the sixth position with 40 points from nine games.
Brief scores
West Indies 152 (Lewis 55*, Starc 3/43, Hazlewood 2/18, Agar 2/31, Zampa 2/29) lost to Australia 153/4 (Wade 51*, Alex Carey 35, Marsh 29, Joseph 1/14, Hosein 1/29) by six wickets
