Australia secured an 11-run victory over West Indies in a thrilling T20 encounter at Bellerive Oval in Hobart. David Warner’s explosive 70 off 36 balls in his 100th T20I set the tone for Australia’s innings, supported by Tim David’s late blitz to post 213/7. Despite a strong start from West Indies openers Johnson Charles and Brandon King, Adam Zampa’s crucial spell of 3 for 26 turned the tide in Australia’s favor. Despite a late charge from Jason Holder, West Indies fell short at 202/8, handing Australia the win.
In a nutshell
Led by David Warner’s blazing 36-ball 70 in his 100th T20I and backed up by Adam Zampa’s 3 for 26, Australia beat West Indies by 11 runs in a high-scoring encounter at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Friday (December 9). Chasing 214 for victory, the visitors were halted at 202 for 8.
Warner’s assault
Put in to bat, Warner cut loose early. After finding a boundary in the opening over against Akeal Hosein, drilling a half volley through covers, he smashed Jason Holder for four boundaries in the next over. He followed that assault against Hosein again in the next over, slog-sweeping the spinner for a six before slapping another boundary through extra cover. Within the first 16 balls, Australia had picked 38 runs, with Warner scoring 33 of those.
The spinner could have dismissed the southpaw but dropped him two balls later when a hard hit came back to him. Australia raced away to 77 runs in the powerplay, with both openers – Warner and Josh Inglis – settled in the middle.
West Indies fight back
Soon after the field restrictions were removed, both Warner and Inglis offered the West Indians chances, but both were put down. However Holder eventually struck with Inglis mistiming one in the air for Powell to hold on to it without trouble. A few overs later, just when Mitchell Marsh was looking to settle in Alzarri Joseph’s short ball took the edge to the ‘keeper, and two balls later, Warner gloved an attempted scoop to Nicholas Pooran – who had put him down earlier.
Andre Russell returned and picked three wickets, with Romario Shepherd also adding to his tally, as Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis departed without much damage. But Tim David’s late assault ensured that Australia crossed the 200-run mark with ease. The big-hitter smoked two boundaries and two sixes in his unbeaten 17-ball 37.
West Indies make strong start in chase
With little option but to break free early, Johnson Charles and Brandon King went on the offensive from the first over of the chase. The duo smoked three boundaries and picked 16 runs from the opening over by Jason Behrendorff. They sustained the attack through the powerplay and picked 72 runs in that phase.
They eventually added 89 runs for the opening wicket before Zampa imposed himself in the contest.
The Zampa effect
The leggie, who conceded nine runs off his first over, returned to turn the contest in Australia’s favour. He had Johnson Charles mistiming a hit to the deep point fielder in the second over, ending the dangerous first wicket stand.
That paved the way for West Indies’ collapse. Two overs later, Stoinis had King pulling to the fielder at deep mid wicket and in the next, Maxwell ended Rovman Powell’s breezy but brief stay. With a long batting order, West Indies could afford to be on the attack at all times. Much like Powell, even Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope attempted to hit the big shots – but not with the same impact.
Zampa ended his spell by dismissing Andre Russell and Pooran in his last over, cleaning up the former and having the latter caught at deep mid wicket.
Holder holds West Indies’ chase
Batting at No. 9, Holder walked in with West Indies needing 56 in 22 balls. It was an uphill task but the big all-rounder took the attack to Behrendorff in the 18th over, and with 27 needed off the last over, he smoked Sean Abbott over the deep mid wicket boundary. Nonetheless, his 15-ball 34* went in vain as Abbott managed to nail his yorkers well and help his side to victory.
Brief Scores: Australia 213/7 in 20 overs (David Warner 70, Josh Inglis 39; Andre Russell 3-42, Alzarri Joseph 2-46) beat West Indies 202/8 in 20 overs (Brandon King 53, Johnson Charles 42; Adam Zampa 3-26, Marcus Stoinis 2-20) by 11 runs.
