AUS vs WI T20: Australia’s tour of West Indies. West Indies were 3-1 ahead going into the 5th game of the series. Both teams trying some new strategies and test the bench strength. There were quite some changes in the Australian line-up. Last match game-winner for Australia Mitchell Starc was rested for this match.
Line-ups for both the teams were as follows:
Australia: Josh Phillipe, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Moises Henriques, Alex Carey, Matthew Wade (w.k), Andrew Tye, Mitchell Swepson, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
West Indies: Andre Flecher, Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Nichlos Pooran (c)(w.k), Andre Russell, Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Hayden Walsh Jr, Sheldon Cotrell, Oshane Thomas.
West Indies scored 199/8 in 20 overs.
Evin Lewis was on fire from the starting of the innings. Scoring freely and efficiently. Andre Flecher could not gain that type of momentum. Adam Zampa bowled him in the 5th over of the match, scoring 12 from 16 balls. Chris Gayle Stromed with 2 fours and 2 sixes in 7 balls scoring 21 runs. But in the 7th over, Mitchell Swepson stopped him. Lendl Simmons supported Lewis giving him the maximum strike. In the 11th over Mitchell Marsh’s golden run continued, getting Lewis’s wicket. He scored 79 runs from 34 balls hitting 9 sixes alone. Lendl Simmons was out in the 15th over by Mitchell Marsh scoring 21 off 25 deliveries.
Nichlos Pooran blasted 31 runs from 18 balls to get out in the bowling of Andrew Tye. Hayden Walsh Jr made sure to push the total higher scoring a very important 12 runs from 8 balls. He finished not out. None other batsmen were able to score.
Andrew tye picked up 3 wickets for 37. Mitchell Marsh and Adam Zampa took 2 wickets each. And 1 wicket went to Swepson.
Australia just short of 199 with 183 of their own.
Sheldon Cotrell got Josh Phillipe in the last ball of the very first over for a 4th ball duck. Mitchell Marsh and Aaron Finch were batting like it’s their last game. Mitchell Marsh was caught and bowled by Andre Russell in the 5th over. Marsh scored 30 runs from 15 balls. Aaron Finch departed in the 10 over of the innings. Hayden Walsh Jr was the wicket-taker. Nicholas Pooran ran out Moises Henriques just 2 balls after Finch’s wicket. It was a big blow for the Australian side.
Alex Carey struggled to score quickly and was sent back in the over of Andre Russell. Matthew Wade tried to up the antenna but again Russell stopping him at 26 runs from 18 balls. It was then a wicket fest for the West Indies. The batsmen would hit a boundary and get out.
Sheldon Cotrell and Andre Russell took three wickets each giving 28 and 43 runs respectively. Hayden Walsh Jr got one wicket for 43 in his 4 overs.
Australia have to make changes, West Indies in nice form.
It will not be a worry for Australia when their full squad will show up but they still need to make changes. There is still time for the T20 world cups and we are sure they will gather themselves up.
For the West Indies, it is a huge win. We got to see their strength. They must have got so much confidence from this series. They should be eyeing for the T20 world cups.