West Indies batter Sherfane Rutherford lost his cool, sending his helmet flying after failing to convert a dangerous start into a big score as the hosts reached the halfway mark of the first innings of the final T20 of the series at 4/84.
Glenn Maxwell knocked over Rutherford for 35 off 17 balls and had Australian captain Mitchell Marsh in stitches as he directed a haircut celebration towards the dressing room.
Maxwell’s arm ball that slid into the left-hander’s stumps made up for an uncharacteristic drop catch earlier in the innings, but thankfully for Maxwell and the Australians opener Brandon King was dismissed the following over.
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Opting for Maxwell to take the pace off the ball against the rampaging Rutherford was a shrewd piece of captaincy from Marsh, whose extraordinary run of winning tosses continued with the visitors opting to bowl first for the fifth straight match.
Marsh could not help but chuckle as his correct call meant Australia won all eight tosses on this tour, a freakish one in 256 chance of happening.
Australia are chasing a first ever men’s T20I five-match series clean sweep to celebrate Adam Zampa’s 100th T20I appearance, the leg spinner is only the fourth Australian men’s player to reach the milestone alongside Glenn Maxwell, David Warner and Aaron Finch.
“I don’t think there’s a more influential player in this Australian team than Adam Zampa,” Brad Haddin said on ESPN’s coverage.
“This man is the most important bowler in the Australian cricket team. Under pressure, the ball goes to him, he can bowl in all three fazes of the game
“He can now put his name up with some of our great bowlers … Shane Warne, Brad Hogg, he’s right up there.”
MATCH CENTRE: West Indies vs Australia fifth T20 live scorecard
Marsh announced two changes to the Australian XI for the series finale in St Kitts with game three hero Tim David returning in place of youngster Cooper Connolly, while Ben Dwarshuis replaces Xavier Bartlett.
Meanwhile, the hosts were fined ten per cent of their match for a slow over rate during the fourth T20 against Australia in St Kitts.
On Monday evening, the ICC confirmed match referee Reon King adjudicated that the hosts were two overs behind the target over rate during Australia’s three-wicket victory at Basseterre’s Warner Park on Saturday.
West Indies captain Shai Hope pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction.
Australia XI: Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Marsh (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitch Owen, Aaron Hardie, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa
West Indies XI: Keacy Carty, Brandon King, Shai Hope (capt & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Jediah Blades
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