Tim David has set a new Australian century mark in T20 cricket with an astonishing century to guide the tourists to a series clinching triumph over the West Indies in the Caribbean.
The powerhouse secured the fastest ever half-century and then hundred when scoring an unbeaten 102 off just 37 balls to guide Australia to a six wicket victory at Warner Park.
David, who struck 11 sixes and deep in his innings had a strike rate of 300, secured both his maiden T20 century and an incredible victory for Australia when clipping Romario Shepherd for four.
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West Indian great Ian Bishop was among those in awe of the performance of the Western Australian, quipping that “David has batted more like Goliath” as he went about an astonishing rout at the ground on Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Adding further lustre to his Man of the Match performance is the fact it came with Australia under significant pressure for the first real time in the series to date.
When Cameron Green, who had scored half-centuries in the first two matches of the series, fell for 11, the Aussies were 4-87 in pursuit of a target of a massive target of 214.
But David, who missed the first game of the series, combined brilliantly with newcomer Mitch Owen, who was unbeaten on 36 from 16 balls, to rout the West Indian attack in what was the third highest run successful run chase in the format in the West Indies.
Renowned as a powerful finisher, David revelled in the opportunity to bat earlier when coming to the crease in the sixth over after Australian captain Mitch Marsh fell for 22.
He then went on a historic batting blitz for his country that continues Australia’s unbeaten streak in T20 cricket dating back to last September’s tour of England.
“It was just (about) having a great time out in the middle playing for the Australian team and every opportunity we get to play out here, we want to make the most of it,” David said.
“I didn’t think I would have an opportunity to score one hundred for Australia, so I am so glad for the opportunity and just stoked.
“The pitch was good and obviously there was a strong breeze, so you have to back your strengths. I am obviously at my best when I am attacking.”
West Indian captain Shai Hope had earlier scored a superb century after the hosts were sent in to bat by Marsh for the third match in succession to set what appeared a formidable target.
But David has played franchise cricket in the West Indies and said that experience helped him to settle despite the position Australia found itself in early in the superb run chase.
“Absolutely. It’s great to have … positive experiences playing at a ground,” David said.
“Warner Park can be a brilliant place to play, especially when the pitch is good. So you always use your experience and it was helpful.”
Marsh, who said there were “no words for that innings from Tim David”, described it as a special victory. He is delighted newcomers to the national team are contributing in style, with Owen again good with both the bat and the ball.
But he also paid tribute to the bowlers, with Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis superb in stifling the West Indies after the outstanding start by Hope and Brandon King, who also scored a half-century as the hosts reached 125 before the latter fell in the 12th over of the match.
“We’ve played well collectively as a group so far and I thought we executed really well with the ball tonight, certainly in the back end after being under pressure early,” Marsh said.
Hope, who earlier became just the second West Indian after Chris Gayle to score centuries in all three formats with a maiden T20 ton, always feared his team had not scored enough runs, despite the massive target, given Australia’s immense batting firepower.
“I honestly don’t think we had enough runs on the board on a pitch like that and (with) the dimensions the ground, it’s very difficult to defend a score 200 with that surface,” he said.
“Obviously with the ball we need to pick up a lot more wickets consistently and that just didn’t happen enough today.
“I think we also need to give credit to the Australian bowlers. The have bowled very well, the death bowlers, over the last couple of games.”
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