Australia defeats the West Indies thanks to bowlers and Finch
The pace four of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Cameron Green shared the honours despite strong efforts from Aaron Finch (58 runs) and Matthew Wade (39 not out). Australia secured a thrilling three-wicket victory over the West Indies in the first T20I of the two-match series at the Carrara Oval. The home side just missed the 146-run goal with one ball left.
West Indies suffers from expensive drop catches.
When Finch was out, Australia just needed 19 more runs in 17 balls, but the pendulum continued swaying back and forth. With different lengths, including full and short pitches, Alzarri Joseph only allowed four runs in the 18th over. It was followed by a solid penultimate over from Odean Smith, which only cost the visitors four runs. Smith also castled Cummins by striking the deck hard and smashing it onto the stumps.
Matthew Wade was spared as Raymon Reifer flubbed a straightforward catch at deep cover, and Kyle Mayers missed another chance as Starc narrowly escaped being run out by the West Indies, who needed to save 10 runs in the final over. Sheldon Cottrell was the unfortunate bowler both times. Starc eventually scored twice off the sixth ball to assist his team exceed the total set by the West Indies. With two for seventeen from his stipulated four over, Joseph was the best bowler on show for the visitors.
Wade-heroic Finch’s duet
When Australia had 58 for 5, they were in trouble. However, the innings were bolstered by a 69-run partnership between Wade and Finch. To relieve some strain, the hitters hit a boundary off Smith and Yannic Cariah, respectively. Australia took control as Finch and Wade hit four consecutive boundaries off a reckless Cottrell in the 12th over. Cottrell was penalised for his lengthy hops and sometimes complete tosses when bowling.
Wade and Finch continued to play quite freely; Wade pushed Smith over the midwicket area while Finch lofted a slower one from Jason Holder towards the downtown areas. After the opener lofted one to the fielder at long-on, West Indies pace king Joseph ultimately dismissed Finch.
The bowlers from West Indies rumble the home team.
As they lost David Warner, Green, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and Tim David within the first eight overs of the innings, Australia’s voyage wasn’t quite trouble-free. Warner attempted to hoick once past the line in the second over but was only able to edge Cottrell to the lone slip fielder, Brandon King. Cottrell also convinced Marsh to edge one behind in the same over. Green and Finch then hammered Jason Holder for two boundaries and a six, allaying the worries of the Australian camp.
At that time, Joseph immediately bowled and extracted bounce to clear up Green. Yannic Cariah and Holder increased their efforts by getting rid of Maxwell and David.
