Australia has been set a daunting 190-run target for victory in the T20 series opener against the West Indies at Kingston’s Sabina Park.
The hosts posted 8-189 after Australian captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl first, with captain Shai Hope and Roston Chase blasting rapid half-centuries.
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The duo added 91 in a damaging second-wicket partnership before Shimron Hetmyer cracked three sixes in a late cameo, but the West Indies stumbled at the final hurdle when Australian quick Ben Dwarshuis ripped through the middle order, claiming three wickets in the penultimate over.
Dwarshuis finished with career-best figures of 4-36, while spinner Adam Zampa conceded just two boundaries in an economical spell.
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The West Indies openers clobbered 32 from the first three overs in an explosive start before young all-rounder Cooper Connolly broke the stand on his second delivery, with Brandon King stumped for 18 after charging down the wicket.
Roston Chase smacked two elegant sixes against Australia’s spinners and three consecutive boundaries against seamer Sean Abbott before racing towards a third T20I half-century in just 25 deliveries, his fastest fifty in the format. The Barbadian departed in the 13th over after miscuing a slog against Dwarshuis and picking out long-on, gone for 60 (32).
Hope thumped veteran Glenn Maxwell’s first delivery out of the ground before passing fifty with a one-handed six against leggie Adam Zampa, reaching the minor milestone in 37 balls.
Soon after, the dangerous Hetmyer top-edged a six against debutant Mitchell Owen before the Tasmanian seamer removed Hope with a scrambled-seam delivery, caught in the outfield for 55 (39).
West Indies legend Andre Russell, who recently announced his international retirement, received a standing ovation from the adoring crowd as he walked out to bat before muscling his third delivery over the square leg boundary. However, the two-time T20 World Cup champion fell in the penultimate over to Dwarshuis, with Cameron Green holding onto a smart catch at long off.
Dwarshuis found himself on a hat-trick after removing pinch-hitter Sherfane Rutherford for a golden duck — all-rounder Jason Holder defended the hat-trick ball but departed the very next delivery for a second-ball duck.
The West Indies managed 4-7 from the last 16 deliveries in a dreadful late collapse, with Green claiming another superb catch on the boundary rope to topple Hetmayer for 38 (19).
Australia’s run chase got off to a scratchy start as under-fire opener Jake Fraser-McGurk awkwardly flat-batted a short delivery from Holder towards mid-off for 2 (7).
At the other end, Marsh thumped a trio of sixes into the stands before wicketkeeper Josh Inglis hit three maximums off Russell’s first over, including an extravagant reverse lap.
Speedster Alzarri Joseph removed Marsh for 24 with his first delivery of the match, with the West Indies successfully overturning an on-field decision for caught behind when a faint edge appeared on Snicko. However, Green cleared the boundary rope three times during the same over to finish Australia’s Powerplay with a bang.
Hosein returned to the attack and removed Inglis, who top-edged a sweep shot towards short fine leg for 18 (8) before fellow tweaker Gudakesh Motie bamboozled Maxwell, gone for 11.
Earlier on Sunday, all-rounder Mitchell Owen was presented his maiden cap by Hurricanes captain Nathan Ellis, becoming Australia’s 112th men’s T20I cricketer.
The new-look Australians were missing several of the Test stars, including Travis Head, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, who had been rested following the recent Frank Worrell Trophy whitewash.
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