Tim David has launched an astonishing assault on West Indian spinner Gudakesh Motie, launching him for four straight sixes as the Australians try to reel in a monster total of 214 in the T20 match being played in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
With Australia under pressure at 4-87 after the loss of Cameron Green, David has exploded at the crease with a dazzling display to come within reach of a half-century.
After 11 overs, Australia is 4-140, with David recording the fastest ever T20I half century by an Australian on the first ball of the over, belting 53 from 16 balls.
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“This is a momentum-changing knock here from Tim David,” Brad Haddin said, while his fellow commentator Samuel Badree added: “This is insane level batting”.
The pressure of having to chase down a massive target of 214 to secure the T20 series in the West Indies looked to be telling on the Australians, which lost three wickets in the powerplay.
While the Aussie top order of Mitch Marsh (22), Glenn Maxwell (20) and Josh Inglis (15) all made starts in a blistering opening to the chase, the three were back in the sheds after the completion of six overs.
Australia completed the initial six over stanza at 3-65, just one run behind the West Indies at the same stage, but the hosts had all wickets intact. When Green fell to Shepherd for 11 off 14 balls, the West Indies had the upper-hand.
Earlier, West Indian skipper Shai Hope delivered a superb captain’s knock for his country to set the massive target for Australia.
With the West Indies needing to win in order to keep their hopes alive in the five match series, Hope batted superbly when scoring an unbeaten 102 to lead his nation to 4-214 from the full allotment of overs.
Australia, who has reeled in the West Indies targets in the first two matches of the series, would post the third biggest run chase ever in the Caribbean in the format if successful.
The star West Indian Hope joined Chris Gayle as the only batters from the Caribbean to score centuries in all formats of the game when scoring his maiden T20 century from 57 deliveries.
He combined superbly with fellow opener Brandon Hope, who scored a blistering 62 from 36 deliveries, at the top of the West Indian innings before the Australians managed to slow the hosts in the second half of the innings.
Star leg-spinner Adam Zampa was costly, taking 1-51 from his four overs, and Ben Dwarshuis was carted early by Hope and King when finishing with 0-46 from his four overs, while Glenn Maxwell was hammered in the powerplay when going for 31 runs from his two overs.
But Sean Abbott, who was included in the XI at the expense of Matt Kuhnemann, was miserly when conceding only 21 runs from his four overs, while Nathan Ellis bowled well at the death when picking up 1-37 from four overs.
King praised his skipper for being able to bat through the innings, saying it had been a goal for his nation to make the most of a good start and go on with the job.
“I know it’s something we’ve been speaking about,” he said.
“Obviously a few guys have been getting 50s through the series and getting out, so we wanted somebody to go deep today and the skipper did brilliantly.”
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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