Aussie newcomer Mitch Owen has struck a blow for the tourists against the flying West Indies when securing the wicket of opener Brandon King in the 12th over of the match.
While the West Indies have been smashing sixes at will at Warner Park in their bid to keep the five match series alive, Owen was able to snare the wicket of King, who was caught in the outfield by Sean Abbott for a blistering 62 off just 36 balls. He struck 11 sixes in his inings.
The West Indies are 1-127 after 12 overs, with captain Shai Hope unbeaten on 60 from 35 balls. The Australians will be hoping the fall of King slows the hosts, who started brilliantly in the first match of the series last week, only to stumble late in their innings.
King and Hope made the most of the shorter boundaries at the Saint Kitts and Nevis ground, batting with controlled aggression as they bid to set Australia a target too large to reel in at Saint Kitts and Nevis.
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Earlier, Australia sent the West Indies for the third time in as many matches as it seeks to secure the T20 series underway in the Caribbean.
Captain Mitch Marsh said he was hopeful of keeping the West Indies to a “reasonable total” after being able to reel in the targets the hosts have set with ease in the first two games of the five match series.
The Aussies, who have selected Sean Abbott in place of Matt Kuhnemann, are seeking to keep an unbeaten streak in T20 cricket dating back to last September alive in the match being played in Basseterre.
“When you have got a breeze like this, you try to use it to your advantage as a bowling unit,” Marsh said.
“It is probably the smallest ground I have seen in world cricket, so I am sure the ball is going to be flying around, but it is just about being as proactive as we can and trying to stay ahead of the game.”
Western Australians Cameron Green and Josh Inglis, along with newcomer Mitch Owen, are among those to star with the bat in the first two games of the five match series. But, as Marsh said, there is always room for improvement.
Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said the Aussies will be determined to leave nothing to chance in a bid to secure a series victory today and that, Marsh said, is the plan.
“We are always searching for a bit of improvement across the board. But we will keep sticking to our plans and keep trying to execute under pressure and hopefully keep winning,” Marsh said.
The West Indies will unveil a newcomer in Jediah Blades, while bowler Romario Shepherd also comes into the team following the retirement of Andre Russell, who played his final game last week.
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Australia can clinch the series with a victory on Saturday after posting three wicket and eight wicket triumphs in the first two matches, which were hosted in Kingston.
The final three matches of the series will be held in Basseterre, which could bring a change in conditions after the Australians easily reeled in the West Indies targets of 189 and 172 in the first two outings.
The Aussies are looking ahead to next February’s T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India and are on a five match winning streak in the format after sweeping a series against Pakistan at home last November.
Following the Caribbean tour, Australia will host South Africa in a three match tour next month and then India in late October and early November for five games.
Green has settled in well at No.4 with two half-centuries from as many matches so far, while Inglis batted superbly at first drop in the most recent outing and wants that spot permanently.
After dazzling form in the Big Bash League, Owen demonstrated he was capable of succeeding on the international scene as well with a half-century in the opening game.
The hosts will be desperate to keep the series alive heading into the fourth game on Sunday, having previously been swept 3-0 in the Test series by Australia.
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