Brandon King of West Indies is in for a chat. He says that it is always a good wicket here with the small boundaries. Mentions that the talk has been about converting starts and Shai Hope did that brilliantly tonight. Feels that it is always good to show some consistency and reckons that it is easier in this format, where it is basically go hard or go home.
Australian bowlers didn't have that bad a game, the Windies' batting was exceptional. The Aussies' death bowling was impressive, though. Mitchell Owen, Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa took one apiece. Now, it all comes down to whether the Windies can defend this total or if the Aussies will chase it down to seal the series.
The Windies openers, Shai Hope and Brandon King, got off to a flying start, smashing 66 runs in the first six overs without losing a wicket. Hope was particularly dominant, scoring 43 of those runs. Although King fell at 125, Hope continued his onslaught and went on to score his maiden T20I century. The Windies batters took full advantage of the short boundaries to post a massive total.
The West Indies batting unit has finally found its rhythm, posting an imposing total of 214Â runs on the board.
Nathan Ellis to Romario Shepherd, ! Back-to-back boundaries for Romario Shepherd! Pitched up by Ellis, on off, Romario stays deep in the crease and drills it to the left of mid off for four more. 10 runs off the final over and West Indies end up with 214 on the board!
Nathan Ellis to Romario Shepherd, ! Muscled! This is on a short of a length, on off, Romario Shepherd gets the front leg out of the way and smashes this down the ground to the right of the man at mid off inside the circle.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Nathan Ellis to Romario Shepherd, On a length, around off, Romario Shepherd swings across the line. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and it rolls away on the off side for one.
Nathan Ellis to Rovman Powell, ! TAKEN! Nathan Ellis has his reward!
Romario Shepherd walks out next.Â
Nathan Ellis to Rovman Powell, Nathan Ellis starts well! Nails the wide yorker, Rovman lets it go but the ball sneaks just inside the tramline.
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, In the air...but safe! Lowish full toss, around off, Rovman Powell stays deep in the crease and swings through. Ends up slicing it over extra cover where Mitchell Marsh runs over his left shoulder and slides but the ball falls out of his reach. A single taken.
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, ! Powered away! Ben Dwarshuis goes into the wicket and takes pace off. This sits up to be hit for Powell, who holds his shape and dispatches it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a boundary. 200 comes up for West Indies!
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, Wide! Low full toss and it is sprayed well beyond the guideline on off.
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, Four!
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Rovman Powell walks out next to bat.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, ! RUN OUT! Direct hit and Sherfane Rutherford is gone!
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, MAIDEN T20I TON FOR HOPE! Shai joins Chris Gayle as the 2nd West Indian batter to score centuries in all 3 formats of the game. The Windies skipper has led from the front in this do-or-die clash for the home side. Very full, angled across, Hope gets low and digs it out to deep cover to get to the landmark.
What an over this turned out to be from Nathan Ellis. Just 6 off te over and this might well come back to haunt the Windies who have batted brilliantly so far.Â
Nathan Ellis to Sherfane Rutherford, Going across, slower bumper, Sherfane Rutherford gets on his toes to play the ramp but misses. Sherfane expresses his frustration with it not being called a wide for height. To be fair, the replays did show the ball seemed to go slightly over his head even when Rutherford was on his toes.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, On off, on a short of a length, cut away to deep backward point for a single.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Had the throw hit, Sherfane Rutherford was gone! On a hard length, around off, Hope walks inside the line for the scoop but misses. The ball rolls beside the strip on the leg side off the pads. Rutherford wants to sneak in a single but Shai sends him back. Ellis gets to the ball quickly and turns around to fire in a throw at the bowling end. Sherfane had given up but the throw missed the stumps.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Four!
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Wide! Slower one from Ellis and wider. This is well beyond the tramline on off. The ball bounces in front and Josh Inglis does well to get his body behind the ball.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Goes full and it is just inside the tramline, Hope reaches out but the ball goes past the toe end of the bat.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Angled into the right-hander, on a short of a length, Shai Hope has a swipe across the line but misses on the inside edge as the ball goes over the leg pole.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Two leg byes! At the pads and the length is full, Sherfane Rutherford fails to tickle it away. The ball dribbles off the pads to the left of deep fine leg for a couple of leg byes.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Well bowled! Executes the wide yorker and it sneaks just inside the tramline, Rutherford reaches out and gets low but fails to make any contact.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Full and at pace, on middle, Hope hits it on the bounce to long on for a single.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Wide!
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Leg bye! Yorker, at the toes, Rutherford misses out on the flick. A leg bye is taken as the ball rolls off the boot to the leg side.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Sean takes pace off and this slides across the left-hander, on a back of a length, Sherfane Rutherford swings and misses.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Wide!
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, ! Intentional! Pushed across the left-hander, low full toss, Sherfane Rutherford gets low to make contact with this full toss. Opens the bat face and glides it fine of the man at short third for a boundary.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, Full and wide on off, Sherfane Rutherford squeezes it out off an inside edge to the right of the keeper for a single.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, Full toss at knee height, on off, Sherfane Rutherford swings but gets it high on the bat and the ball goes on the bounce to Ben.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, ! Up and over! Ben Dwarshuis takes pace off and goes into the wicket. Keeps it near the tramline on off, Sherfane Rutherford reaches out and even though one hand comes off the bat, he manages to go over extra cover for a boundary.
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, Nails the yorker this time, on middle, Hope backs away and bunts it in front of extra cover for one.
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, ! Innovative and mighty effective! Ben Dwarshuis comes from around the wicket and goes searching for the yorker. Ends up serving a low full toss, on off, Shai walks inside the line of the ball and scoops it over short fine leg for a four.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, Low full toss, on middle, driven to long off for a single.
Adam Zampa to Sherfane Rutherford, Full toss on middle and leg, Sherfane Rutherford drills this to long on for a single.
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, Thrown full and wide outside off, Shai Hope smashes this to deep point for a single.Â
Adam Zampa to Sherfane Rutherford, Fuller on off, Sherfane Rutherford rolls this to long off and gets off the mark.Â
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, ! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP!
Sherfane Rutherford walks out to bat.
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, ! Overcompensates by going full, on middle and off. Giving Shimron Hetmyer the chance to free his arms. Shimron swings at it and connects well. The ball has sailed over the long on fence for a huge six.Â
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, No run.
Mitchell Marsh was thinking about turning to Ben Dwarshuis but he changed his mind and it will be Adam Zampa to continue. Zampa to bowl out. 3-0-42-0 so far for the leggie.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Brilliant from Nathan Ellis. Slower one, back of the hand around leg. Shai Hope swings wild at it, gets beaten to the pace take off this one. The ball had barely missed the leg pole.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Another set of two as Shai Hope tucks a good length delivery on his pads towards deep square and turns back for two.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Full and wide outside off, Shai Hope backs away and gides this towards deep third's right for two. This was racing to the fence before that diving effort from Tim David to his right to save a couple for his side.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shimron Hetmyer, Good length on off, Shimron Hetmyer punches this to extra cover and takes a quick single.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Back of a length on middle and leg, Shai Hope pulls this flat towards deep mid-wicket for one.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, ! SHAI HOPE HAS BEEN SENSATIONAL SO FAR! CRUNCHED! Good length wide of off, Shai Hope moves to his leg and slaps this past extra cover and into the fence for four. This took no time in racing to the fence once it left the bat of Hope.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, ! This time Shai Hope slogs this wide to the left of cow corner for yet another biggie.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, ! DISPATCHED! Shai Hope keeps peppering the boundary down the ground and it brings him rewards one more time. Full toss, on off. Shai Hope gets up as the ball comes closer to his hitting arc. Smashes this up and over the sight screen for another biggie.Â
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, Shimron Hetmyer showed his cards early by jumping down the track before Zampa let go off the ball. Adam Zampa was clever enough to fire this full and wide outside off. Shimron Hetmyer ends up pushing this towards long off for one.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, Fuller on off, Shai Hope drives this to sweeper cover and rotates strike.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, ! Such has been the game so far for Shai Hope. Flighted on off, Shai Hope prods forwards to push this through cover but gets an outside edge and the ball has raced past the keeper's right and away from the reach of short third to his left for four.Â
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, On a length around the pads, Shai Hope tucks this through mid-wicket and takes a single. End of a successful over for the Aussies as Owen gives 10 but takes an all-important wicket of King in this.Â
Mitchell Owen to Shimron Hetmyer, Too full on the pads, Shimron Hetmyer flicks this to deep square for a single to get off the mark.Â
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, ! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Cramping the batter for any sort of room and making him hit into the wind has worked for the Aussies.Â
Shimron Hetmyer is in at number 3.
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, ! Pumped out of the park. Short-pitched, around middle and leg, Brandon King pulls this in-between deep mid-wicket and deep square for yet another biggie. 10th biggie of the game and 6th off King's bat.Â
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, WIDE! Full and wide down the leg. Brandon King looks for the flick and misses. Wided.Â
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, Comes round the wicket and nails the yorker on middle and leg. BK defends this out.Â
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Good length on off, Shai Hope thumps this to sweeper cover for one.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Much slower and on off, Brandon King goes for the reverse sweep but misses and Josh Inglis gathers this well behind the stumps and removes the bails in a flash. Josh appeals for stumping and the leg umpire sends this upstairs. The replay shows that Brandon King never dragged his foot out of the crease and he is safe.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, No run.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Wide!
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! Another misfield and this time it is Glenn Maxwell off all the players from Australia.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! FIFTY FOR KING! Half-centuries in successive games for King. Short of a length on off, Brandon King moves to his leg and smashes this away to the right of Mitchell Owen at deep point. The tall figure of Owen gets late in getting down and the ball crashes into the fence for four.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, Genuine leggie, around off. Shai Hope backs away and smashes this powerfully down to the long off fielder for one.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Tossed up, wide of off. Brandon King goes for the slog sweep but gets it off the inside, rolling to long on for a single.Â
Time for a drinks break. The Windies openers have been phenomenal! Shai Hope and Brandon King have been in scintillating form, taking the attack to the bowlers and pummeling the short boundary down the ground. With 106 runs on the board without losing a wicket after 10 overs, the home side is in a fantastic position. The visitors need to break the partnership and get some crucial wickets to stem the flow of runs. Taking wickets would definitely put the brakes on the Windies' scoring rate.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, Very full, on off and middle, Brandon King gets under the ball and smashes it back over the bowler's head. Cameron Green gets across from a straightish long on and cuts it off. A single taken. 12 runs off the over. At the halfway mark, West Indies are 106/0.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, ! Clean strike! This slides on with the arm, on the shorter side, Brandon King clears the front leg and swats it over deep mid-wicket for a 89-metre hit. 100 comes up for West Indies!
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Fired in, fuller and at the stumps, knocked to long on for a single.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Slows it down and keeps the line around the off stump, Hope backs away for the cut but ends up chopping it beside him.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Turning back in, on middle, a bit fuller, Hope punches it back to Maxwell.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, ! Thumped! Flat and short, on middle, Shai Hope is quick to get on the back foot and slaps it back over the bowler's head for a boundary.
Glenn Maxwell (1-0-19-0)Â comes back into the attack.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Slower bumper from Sean Abbott, over off, Brandon King offers no shot, thinking it is going over his head but there is no signal for wide. A superb over from Sean, just 3 off it.
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, On a shortish length, on off, Brandon drags the pull to mid-wicket.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, At the stumps, on a length, Hope drives it to long on and takes a single.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Sean goes into the wicket, outside off, Shai Hope lets it go.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, FIFTY FOR HOPE! A knock of high quality from the West Indies' skipper and it has come in a must-win clash. Low full toss, around off, Hope drills it to the right of deep cover for a couple of runs to get to his 8th T20I fifty.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Nails the wide yorker and it sneaks under the blade. Hope fails to squeeze it out.
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, ! High and handsome! Owen tries to follow the batter, on a good length, King gives the bowler the charge and tonks it way over long on for a biggie.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Fuller and slanting into the batter, Shai taps it to long on and takes a single.
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, Owen bashes the surface, over middle, Brandon King steps out and forces it to long on for one.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Angled into the batter, on a good length, Hope pushes it to long on and crosses over.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, ! Fine shot! On a back of a length, on off, Shai Hope gets on top of the bounce and creates the room with his hands. Plays it late to beat the fielder at deep point to his left.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Pace off and into the wicket, on top of off, Hope glides it to backward point.
Mitchell Owen is introduced into the attack. Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Shorter and around off, King rocks back and cuts it towards deep point. A good effort in the deep by Cooper Connolly as he puts in a dive to his left and mops it up. Two runs taken.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! Brandon King does not miss out this time! Zampa gets it a bit too full and around off, Brandon King is allowed to get under the ball and he clobbers it to the left of long on for a flat six.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Slower and fuller, a bit wide on off, Brandon King swings to go down the ground but fails to connect.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Sliding on with the arm, on middle and leg, King jabs at the ball and gets an inside edge onto the pads.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! Punished! Short and wide on off, Brandon King reaches out and slaps it hard square of the wicket on the off side. Cooper Connolly puts in the dive in the deep after a sprint to his left from deep cover but in vain.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Gives the ball a bit of air, full and on off, King knocks it back to Zampa.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, Flat and short, on middle and leg, nudged through mid-wicket for a run. At the end of the Powerplay, West Indies are 66/0.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Six!
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, ! Nothing streaky about this one! Floated up, on a length, on off, Hope clears his front leg and swings through to go back over the bowler's head for a six.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, ! Edged away! Tossed up, at 92.7 kph, wider and fuller on off, Shai Hope backs away and throws his hands at the ball. Gets an outside edge that grazes the gloves of the keeper and races away with no slip in place.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, Pushed through, short and on middle, King flat bats this down to long on for one.
Nathan Ellis to Brandon King, BYE! Slower one, short and around off. Brandon King goes for the pull but gets beaten to the pace taken off this one. The ball bounced in front of Josh Inglis behind the stumps and he fails to gather this clean. A single taken.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Back of a length around off, Shai Hope punches this off the back foot towards cover for one.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, ! NO NONSENSE STROKE FROM HOPE! Goes full pace on. Shai Hope was up for it. Hope stands still and smashes this up and over the bowler and the sight screen for a biggie down the ground. Shai Hope looks in the mood.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Good length around off, Shai Hope punches this towards deep third and jogs back for two.Â
Nathan Ellis to Brandon King, Wide yorker around off, Brandon King toe-pokes this towards Cooper Connolly at short third for just one.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Ellis starts with a back-of-the-hand slower one, on the pads. Shai Hope drops this towards short fine leg and takes one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Slower one, around off. Shai Hope punches this well and away to the right of the fielder at extra cover. A brilliant diving effort, full stretch to the right, takes the sting out of the stroke and keeps it down to just one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Good length around middle and leg, Shai Hope looks to slog this over mid-wicket but gets it off the inside of his bat and rolling towards Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket for no run.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Goes full again, on the pads, Brandon King tucks this to mid on and runs one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, LEG BYE! Full and drifting down the leg. Shai Hope misses on the leg glance and gets it deflected off he pads towards short third for one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Six!
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Clever from Sean as he followed the batter to his leg and cramped King for room. Brandon King cuts this to backward point and takes one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, ! HOPE GETS INTO THE ACT! Full and wide outside off, Shai Hope stays leg side and smashes this up and over the mid off fielder for four. This happens to be the first aggressive stroke from Hope and he has sent this one bounce over the rope for four runs.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, On a length around middle and off, Shai Hope gets an inside edge rolling towards deep square for two.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Good length, angling away from the batter. Brandon King chops this of the under edge towards point for one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, Short and wide outside off, Shai Hope punches this towards mid off and takes a single. Hope needs to up the ante as he is going at a strike rate of just 50 right now.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Length dragged back this time, around middle and leg. Brandon King tucks this through mid-wicket and takes one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, ! THUMPED! Pitched up on middle and leg, Brandon King swings and connects well. The ball flies out of the middle of King's bat and has been deposited into the top tier towards the long on region for a biggie.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Back of a length around off, Shai Hope moves to his leg and pushes this to extra cover to end the over with another dot. Just 2 off this over.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Good length, on top of off. Shai Hope punches this towards cover for a dot.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Bends his back even more, darts a short-pitched delivery. Brandon King shimmies back and away and punts this towards Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket. Maxi misfields this and the batters take one.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Hits the hard length, around middle and off. Brandon King tucks this towards mid-wicket for a dot.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, PHEW! That was a beauty from Sean first up. Length delivery, tailing in and shaping away after pitching. Shai Hope blocks this off his back foot.Â
Who will bowl from the other end? It will be Sean Abbott. A slight hold-up in play as a blue line on the LED sightscreen, which displays ads, seems to be bothering Shai Hope. Tim David tries to lend a hand, even jokingly placing his towel on the sightscreen in an attempt to fix it. The issue has been sorted and we are ready to resume.
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Back of a length around middle and leg. Brandon King hops up on his toes and looks to nudge this around leg but gets beaten and wears it on his pads. 8 off the first over.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, ! SIMPLY SUBLIME! Half-volley outside off, Brandon King steps out in front and just plays the lofted drive. King times this to perfection and the ball has sailed over the fence towards the long off region for the first biggie of the contest.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, King would feel that he missed out on a boundary scoring opportunity. On a length, down the leg. Brandon King goes for the flick but misses out and the ball clips his pads and goes back to the keeper.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, Both the openers are now off the mark. On a length, around the pads. Shai Hope flicks this towards the right of Glenn Maxwell at short mid-wicket. Glenn dives to his right, outstretches his right hand and fields this keeping it down to one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, King gets off the mark with a single. On a fuller length around middle and off, Brandon King tucks this to the right of mid on and gets off the mark.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Straightaway swing on offer. Pitched up around middle and off, shaping into the batter. Brandon King defends this off the front foot.Â
We are all set for the action to commence.
Before we get going, the two teams line up for the national anthems. The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources of St Kitts, Samal Mojah Duggins, steps forward to place the trophy on the pedestal. Up first, it's the anthem of St Kitts and Nevis, followed by that of Australia, and then the West Indies.Â
PITCH REPORT - Samuel Badree is in for a chat. He says he wouldnât want to be a bowler on this wicket and informs that the average winning first-innings score here since 2022 is 205. He points out that one of the key reasons for such high scores is the boundary dimensions. Mentions that the square boundaries measure 61 and 65 meters, with the straight hit being 68 metres. Expects plenty of sixes tonight. Shakera Selman echoes the sentiment, mentioning that bowlers are likely to struggle o
Cameron Green is in for a chat. Expresses his comfort with batting at various positions in the lineup, particularly highlighting the third spot as a favourable one where he feels like an opener. He emphasizes that his approach depends on the openers' performance, adapting to build partnerships if early wickets fall or accelerate when the situation demands it. Green notes that the Australian team is working on being aggressive and positive, leveraging their lineup of six-hitters to attack the op
The skipper of West Indies, Shai Hope, says the key for his side is to carry the same power and intent through the middle phase as they do at the back end. Mentions that they started well in the last game and need to replicate that strong start again. Hope shares that the biggest focus is on backing their own skills and it is all about the right mindset. He also urges the players to understand the pride that comes with playing for the West Indies and feels it is a great opportunity to turn thing
West Indies (Playing XI) - Brandon King, Shai Hope (C/WK), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford (In for Andre Russell), Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd, Jediah Blades (On T20I debut) (In for Alzarri Joseph).Â
Australian captain Mitchell Marsh informs that his team would bowl first, citing the small ground and strong breeze as key factors. He believes these conditions will give his bowling unit an advantage and hopes they can restrict the opposition to a reasonable total. Marsh described the ground as the smallest he's seen in world cricket, predicting that the ball will travel quickly. He emphasized that the team is looking to improve and will stick to their plans. With Sean Abbott replacing Matthew
Australia (Playing XI) - Mitchell Marsh (C), Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (WK), Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.
... The Run Chase ...
Brandon King of West Indies is in for a chat. He says that it is always a good wicket here with the small boundaries. Mentions that the talk has been about converting starts and Shai Hope did that brilliantly tonight. Feels that it is always good to show some consistency and reckons that it is easier in this format, where it is basically go hard or go home.
Australian bowlers didn't have that bad a game, the Windies' batting was exceptional. The Aussies' death bowling was impressive, though. Mitchell Owen, Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa took one apiece. Now, it all comes down to whether the Windies can defend this total or if the Aussies will chase it down to seal the series.
The Windies openers, Shai Hope and Brandon King, got off to a flying start, smashing 66 runs in the first six overs without losing a wicket. Hope was particularly dominant, scoring 43 of those runs. Although King fell at 125, Hope continued his onslaught and went on to score his maiden T20I century. The Windies batters took full advantage of the short boundaries to post a massive total.
The West Indies batting unit has finally found its rhythm, posting an imposing total of 214Â runs on the board.
Nathan Ellis to Romario Shepherd, ! Back-to-back boundaries for Romario Shepherd! Pitched up by Ellis, on off, Romario stays deep in the crease and drills it to the left of mid off for four more. 10 runs off the final over and West Indies end up with 214 on the board!
Nathan Ellis to Romario Shepherd, ! Muscled! This is on a short of a length, on off, Romario Shepherd gets the front leg out of the way and smashes this down the ground to the right of the man at mid off inside the circle.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Nathan Ellis to Romario Shepherd, On a length, around off, Romario Shepherd swings across the line. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and it rolls away on the off side for one.
Nathan Ellis to Rovman Powell, ! TAKEN! Nathan Ellis has his reward!
Romario Shepherd walks out next.Â
Nathan Ellis to Rovman Powell, Nathan Ellis starts well! Nails the wide yorker, Rovman lets it go but the ball sneaks just inside the tramline.
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, In the air...but safe! Lowish full toss, around off, Rovman Powell stays deep in the crease and swings through. Ends up slicing it over extra cover where Mitchell Marsh runs over his left shoulder and slides but the ball falls out of his reach. A single taken.
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, ! Powered away! Ben Dwarshuis goes into the wicket and takes pace off. This sits up to be hit for Powell, who holds his shape and dispatches it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a boundary. 200 comes up for West Indies!
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, Wide! Low full toss and it is sprayed well beyond the guideline on off.
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, Four!
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Rovman Powell walks out next to bat.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, ! RUN OUT! Direct hit and Sherfane Rutherford is gone!
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, MAIDEN T20I TON FOR HOPE! Shai joins Chris Gayle as the 2nd West Indian batter to score centuries in all 3 formats of the game. The Windies skipper has led from the front in this do-or-die clash for the home side. Very full, angled across, Hope gets low and digs it out to deep cover to get to the landmark.
What an over this turned out to be from Nathan Ellis. Just 6 off te over and this might well come back to haunt the Windies who have batted brilliantly so far.Â
Nathan Ellis to Sherfane Rutherford, Going across, slower bumper, Sherfane Rutherford gets on his toes to play the ramp but misses. Sherfane expresses his frustration with it not being called a wide for height. To be fair, the replays did show the ball seemed to go slightly over his head even when Rutherford was on his toes.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, On off, on a short of a length, cut away to deep backward point for a single.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Had the throw hit, Sherfane Rutherford was gone! On a hard length, around off, Hope walks inside the line for the scoop but misses. The ball rolls beside the strip on the leg side off the pads. Rutherford wants to sneak in a single but Shai sends him back. Ellis gets to the ball quickly and turns around to fire in a throw at the bowling end. Sherfane had given up but the throw missed the stumps.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Four!
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Wide! Slower one from Ellis and wider. This is well beyond the tramline on off. The ball bounces in front and Josh Inglis does well to get his body behind the ball.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Goes full and it is just inside the tramline, Hope reaches out but the ball goes past the toe end of the bat.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Angled into the right-hander, on a short of a length, Shai Hope has a swipe across the line but misses on the inside edge as the ball goes over the leg pole.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Two leg byes! At the pads and the length is full, Sherfane Rutherford fails to tickle it away. The ball dribbles off the pads to the left of deep fine leg for a couple of leg byes.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Well bowled! Executes the wide yorker and it sneaks just inside the tramline, Rutherford reaches out and gets low but fails to make any contact.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Full and at pace, on middle, Hope hits it on the bounce to long on for a single.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Wide!
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Leg bye! Yorker, at the toes, Rutherford misses out on the flick. A leg bye is taken as the ball rolls off the boot to the leg side.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Sean takes pace off and this slides across the left-hander, on a back of a length, Sherfane Rutherford swings and misses.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Wide!
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, ! Intentional! Pushed across the left-hander, low full toss, Sherfane Rutherford gets low to make contact with this full toss. Opens the bat face and glides it fine of the man at short third for a boundary.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, Full and wide on off, Sherfane Rutherford squeezes it out off an inside edge to the right of the keeper for a single.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, Full toss at knee height, on off, Sherfane Rutherford swings but gets it high on the bat and the ball goes on the bounce to Ben.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, ! Up and over! Ben Dwarshuis takes pace off and goes into the wicket. Keeps it near the tramline on off, Sherfane Rutherford reaches out and even though one hand comes off the bat, he manages to go over extra cover for a boundary.
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, Nails the yorker this time, on middle, Hope backs away and bunts it in front of extra cover for one.
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, ! Innovative and mighty effective! Ben Dwarshuis comes from around the wicket and goes searching for the yorker. Ends up serving a low full toss, on off, Shai walks inside the line of the ball and scoops it over short fine leg for a four.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, Low full toss, on middle, driven to long off for a single.
Adam Zampa to Sherfane Rutherford, Full toss on middle and leg, Sherfane Rutherford drills this to long on for a single.
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, Thrown full and wide outside off, Shai Hope smashes this to deep point for a single.Â
Adam Zampa to Sherfane Rutherford, Fuller on off, Sherfane Rutherford rolls this to long off and gets off the mark.Â
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, ! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP!
Sherfane Rutherford walks out to bat.
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, ! Overcompensates by going full, on middle and off. Giving Shimron Hetmyer the chance to free his arms. Shimron swings at it and connects well. The ball has sailed over the long on fence for a huge six.Â
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, No run.
Mitchell Marsh was thinking about turning to Ben Dwarshuis but he changed his mind and it will be Adam Zampa to continue. Zampa to bowl out. 3-0-42-0 so far for the leggie.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Brilliant from Nathan Ellis. Slower one, back of the hand around leg. Shai Hope swings wild at it, gets beaten to the pace take off this one. The ball had barely missed the leg pole.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Another set of two as Shai Hope tucks a good length delivery on his pads towards deep square and turns back for two.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Full and wide outside off, Shai Hope backs away and gides this towards deep third's right for two. This was racing to the fence before that diving effort from Tim David to his right to save a couple for his side.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shimron Hetmyer, Good length on off, Shimron Hetmyer punches this to extra cover and takes a quick single.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Back of a length on middle and leg, Shai Hope pulls this flat towards deep mid-wicket for one.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, ! SHAI HOPE HAS BEEN SENSATIONAL SO FAR! CRUNCHED! Good length wide of off, Shai Hope moves to his leg and slaps this past extra cover and into the fence for four. This took no time in racing to the fence once it left the bat of Hope.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, ! This time Shai Hope slogs this wide to the left of cow corner for yet another biggie.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, ! DISPATCHED! Shai Hope keeps peppering the boundary down the ground and it brings him rewards one more time. Full toss, on off. Shai Hope gets up as the ball comes closer to his hitting arc. Smashes this up and over the sight screen for another biggie.Â
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, Shimron Hetmyer showed his cards early by jumping down the track before Zampa let go off the ball. Adam Zampa was clever enough to fire this full and wide outside off. Shimron Hetmyer ends up pushing this towards long off for one.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, Fuller on off, Shai Hope drives this to sweeper cover and rotates strike.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, ! Such has been the game so far for Shai Hope. Flighted on off, Shai Hope prods forwards to push this through cover but gets an outside edge and the ball has raced past the keeper's right and away from the reach of short third to his left for four.Â
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, On a length around the pads, Shai Hope tucks this through mid-wicket and takes a single. End of a successful over for the Aussies as Owen gives 10 but takes an all-important wicket of King in this.Â
Mitchell Owen to Shimron Hetmyer, Too full on the pads, Shimron Hetmyer flicks this to deep square for a single to get off the mark.Â
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, ! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Cramping the batter for any sort of room and making him hit into the wind has worked for the Aussies.Â
Shimron Hetmyer is in at number 3.
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, ! Pumped out of the park. Short-pitched, around middle and leg, Brandon King pulls this in-between deep mid-wicket and deep square for yet another biggie. 10th biggie of the game and 6th off King's bat.Â
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, WIDE! Full and wide down the leg. Brandon King looks for the flick and misses. Wided.Â
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, Comes round the wicket and nails the yorker on middle and leg. BK defends this out.Â
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Good length on off, Shai Hope thumps this to sweeper cover for one.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Much slower and on off, Brandon King goes for the reverse sweep but misses and Josh Inglis gathers this well behind the stumps and removes the bails in a flash. Josh appeals for stumping and the leg umpire sends this upstairs. The replay shows that Brandon King never dragged his foot out of the crease and he is safe.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, No run.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Wide!
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! Another misfield and this time it is Glenn Maxwell off all the players from Australia.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! FIFTY FOR KING! Half-centuries in successive games for King. Short of a length on off, Brandon King moves to his leg and smashes this away to the right of Mitchell Owen at deep point. The tall figure of Owen gets late in getting down and the ball crashes into the fence for four.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, Genuine leggie, around off. Shai Hope backs away and smashes this powerfully down to the long off fielder for one.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Tossed up, wide of off. Brandon King goes for the slog sweep but gets it off the inside, rolling to long on for a single.Â
Time for a drinks break. The Windies openers have been phenomenal! Shai Hope and Brandon King have been in scintillating form, taking the attack to the bowlers and pummeling the short boundary down the ground. With 106 runs on the board without losing a wicket after 10 overs, the home side is in a fantastic position. The visitors need to break the partnership and get some crucial wickets to stem the flow of runs. Taking wickets would definitely put the brakes on the Windies' scoring rate.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, Very full, on off and middle, Brandon King gets under the ball and smashes it back over the bowler's head. Cameron Green gets across from a straightish long on and cuts it off. A single taken. 12 runs off the over. At the halfway mark, West Indies are 106/0.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, ! Clean strike! This slides on with the arm, on the shorter side, Brandon King clears the front leg and swats it over deep mid-wicket for a 89-metre hit. 100 comes up for West Indies!
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Fired in, fuller and at the stumps, knocked to long on for a single.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Slows it down and keeps the line around the off stump, Hope backs away for the cut but ends up chopping it beside him.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Turning back in, on middle, a bit fuller, Hope punches it back to Maxwell.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, ! Thumped! Flat and short, on middle, Shai Hope is quick to get on the back foot and slaps it back over the bowler's head for a boundary.
Glenn Maxwell (1-0-19-0)Â comes back into the attack.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Slower bumper from Sean Abbott, over off, Brandon King offers no shot, thinking it is going over his head but there is no signal for wide. A superb over from Sean, just 3 off it.
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, On a shortish length, on off, Brandon drags the pull to mid-wicket.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, At the stumps, on a length, Hope drives it to long on and takes a single.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Sean goes into the wicket, outside off, Shai Hope lets it go.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, FIFTY FOR HOPE! A knock of high quality from the West Indies' skipper and it has come in a must-win clash. Low full toss, around off, Hope drills it to the right of deep cover for a couple of runs to get to his 8th T20I fifty.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Nails the wide yorker and it sneaks under the blade. Hope fails to squeeze it out.
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, ! High and handsome! Owen tries to follow the batter, on a good length, King gives the bowler the charge and tonks it way over long on for a biggie.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Fuller and slanting into the batter, Shai taps it to long on and takes a single.
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, Owen bashes the surface, over middle, Brandon King steps out and forces it to long on for one.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Angled into the batter, on a good length, Hope pushes it to long on and crosses over.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, ! Fine shot! On a back of a length, on off, Shai Hope gets on top of the bounce and creates the room with his hands. Plays it late to beat the fielder at deep point to his left.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Pace off and into the wicket, on top of off, Hope glides it to backward point.
Mitchell Owen is introduced into the attack. Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Shorter and around off, King rocks back and cuts it towards deep point. A good effort in the deep by Cooper Connolly as he puts in a dive to his left and mops it up. Two runs taken.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! Brandon King does not miss out this time! Zampa gets it a bit too full and around off, Brandon King is allowed to get under the ball and he clobbers it to the left of long on for a flat six.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Slower and fuller, a bit wide on off, Brandon King swings to go down the ground but fails to connect.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Sliding on with the arm, on middle and leg, King jabs at the ball and gets an inside edge onto the pads.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! Punished! Short and wide on off, Brandon King reaches out and slaps it hard square of the wicket on the off side. Cooper Connolly puts in the dive in the deep after a sprint to his left from deep cover but in vain.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Gives the ball a bit of air, full and on off, King knocks it back to Zampa.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, Flat and short, on middle and leg, nudged through mid-wicket for a run. At the end of the Powerplay, West Indies are 66/0.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Six!
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, ! Nothing streaky about this one! Floated up, on a length, on off, Hope clears his front leg and swings through to go back over the bowler's head for a six.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, ! Edged away! Tossed up, at 92.7 kph, wider and fuller on off, Shai Hope backs away and throws his hands at the ball. Gets an outside edge that grazes the gloves of the keeper and races away with no slip in place.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, Pushed through, short and on middle, King flat bats this down to long on for one.
Nathan Ellis to Brandon King, BYE! Slower one, short and around off. Brandon King goes for the pull but gets beaten to the pace taken off this one. The ball bounced in front of Josh Inglis behind the stumps and he fails to gather this clean. A single taken.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Back of a length around off, Shai Hope punches this off the back foot towards cover for one.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, ! NO NONSENSE STROKE FROM HOPE! Goes full pace on. Shai Hope was up for it. Hope stands still and smashes this up and over the bowler and the sight screen for a biggie down the ground. Shai Hope looks in the mood.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Good length around off, Shai Hope punches this towards deep third and jogs back for two.Â
Nathan Ellis to Brandon King, Wide yorker around off, Brandon King toe-pokes this towards Cooper Connolly at short third for just one.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Ellis starts with a back-of-the-hand slower one, on the pads. Shai Hope drops this towards short fine leg and takes one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Slower one, around off. Shai Hope punches this well and away to the right of the fielder at extra cover. A brilliant diving effort, full stretch to the right, takes the sting out of the stroke and keeps it down to just one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Good length around middle and leg, Shai Hope looks to slog this over mid-wicket but gets it off the inside of his bat and rolling towards Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket for no run.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Goes full again, on the pads, Brandon King tucks this to mid on and runs one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, LEG BYE! Full and drifting down the leg. Shai Hope misses on the leg glance and gets it deflected off he pads towards short third for one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Six!
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Clever from Sean as he followed the batter to his leg and cramped King for room. Brandon King cuts this to backward point and takes one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, ! HOPE GETS INTO THE ACT! Full and wide outside off, Shai Hope stays leg side and smashes this up and over the mid off fielder for four. This happens to be the first aggressive stroke from Hope and he has sent this one bounce over the rope for four runs.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, On a length around middle and off, Shai Hope gets an inside edge rolling towards deep square for two.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Good length, angling away from the batter. Brandon King chops this of the under edge towards point for one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, Short and wide outside off, Shai Hope punches this towards mid off and takes a single. Hope needs to up the ante as he is going at a strike rate of just 50 right now.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Length dragged back this time, around middle and leg. Brandon King tucks this through mid-wicket and takes one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, ! THUMPED! Pitched up on middle and leg, Brandon King swings and connects well. The ball flies out of the middle of King's bat and has been deposited into the top tier towards the long on region for a biggie.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Back of a length around off, Shai Hope moves to his leg and pushes this to extra cover to end the over with another dot. Just 2 off this over.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Good length, on top of off. Shai Hope punches this towards cover for a dot.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Bends his back even more, darts a short-pitched delivery. Brandon King shimmies back and away and punts this towards Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket. Maxi misfields this and the batters take one.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Hits the hard length, around middle and off. Brandon King tucks this towards mid-wicket for a dot.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, PHEW! That was a beauty from Sean first up. Length delivery, tailing in and shaping away after pitching. Shai Hope blocks this off his back foot.Â
Who will bowl from the other end? It will be Sean Abbott. A slight hold-up in play as a blue line on the LED sightscreen, which displays ads, seems to be bothering Shai Hope. Tim David tries to lend a hand, even jokingly placing his towel on the sightscreen in an attempt to fix it. The issue has been sorted and we are ready to resume.
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Back of a length around middle and leg. Brandon King hops up on his toes and looks to nudge this around leg but gets beaten and wears it on his pads. 8 off the first over.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, ! SIMPLY SUBLIME! Half-volley outside off, Brandon King steps out in front and just plays the lofted drive. King times this to perfection and the ball has sailed over the fence towards the long off region for the first biggie of the contest.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, King would feel that he missed out on a boundary scoring opportunity. On a length, down the leg. Brandon King goes for the flick but misses out and the ball clips his pads and goes back to the keeper.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, Both the openers are now off the mark. On a length, around the pads. Shai Hope flicks this towards the right of Glenn Maxwell at short mid-wicket. Glenn dives to his right, outstretches his right hand and fields this keeping it down to one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, King gets off the mark with a single. On a fuller length around middle and off, Brandon King tucks this to the right of mid on and gets off the mark.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Straightaway swing on offer. Pitched up around middle and off, shaping into the batter. Brandon King defends this off the front foot.Â
We are all set for the action to commence.
Before we get going, the two teams line up for the national anthems. The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources of St Kitts, Samal Mojah Duggins, steps forward to place the trophy on the pedestal. Up first, it's the anthem of St Kitts and Nevis, followed by that of Australia, and then the West Indies.Â
PITCH REPORT - Samuel Badree is in for a chat. He says he wouldnât want to be a bowler on this wicket and informs that the average winning first-innings score here since 2022 is 205. He points out that one of the key reasons for such high scores is the boundary dimensions. Mentions that the square boundaries measure 61 and 65 meters, with the straight hit being 68 metres. Expects plenty of sixes tonight. Shakera Selman echoes the sentiment, mentioning that bowlers are likely to struggle o
Cameron Green is in for a chat. Expresses his comfort with batting at various positions in the lineup, particularly highlighting the third spot as a favourable one where he feels like an opener. He emphasizes that his approach depends on the openers' performance, adapting to build partnerships if early wickets fall or accelerate when the situation demands it. Green notes that the Australian team is working on being aggressive and positive, leveraging their lineup of six-hitters to attack the op
The skipper of West Indies, Shai Hope, says the key for his side is to carry the same power and intent through the middle phase as they do at the back end. Mentions that they started well in the last game and need to replicate that strong start again. Hope shares that the biggest focus is on backing their own skills and it is all about the right mindset. He also urges the players to understand the pride that comes with playing for the West Indies and feels it is a great opportunity to turn thing
West Indies (Playing XI) - Brandon King, Shai Hope (C/WK), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford (In for Andre Russell), Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd, Jediah Blades (On T20I debut) (In for Alzarri Joseph).Â
Australian captain Mitchell Marsh informs that his team would bowl first, citing the small ground and strong breeze as key factors. He believes these conditions will give his bowling unit an advantage and hopes they can restrict the opposition to a reasonable total. Marsh described the ground as the smallest he's seen in world cricket, predicting that the ball will travel quickly. He emphasized that the team is looking to improve and will stick to their plans. With Sean Abbott replacing Matthew
Australia (Playing XI) - Mitchell Marsh (C), Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (WK), Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.
Newsletter
Australia
215/4(16.1 Overs)
... The Run Chase ...
Brandon King of West Indies is in for a chat. He says that it is always a good wicket here with the small boundaries. Mentions that the talk has been about converting starts and Shai Hope did that brilliantly tonight. Feels that it is always good to show some consistency and reckons that it is easier in this format, where it is basically go hard or go home.
Australian bowlers didn't have that bad a game, the Windies' batting was exceptional. The Aussies' death bowling was impressive, though. Mitchell Owen, Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa took one apiece. Now, it all comes down to whether the Windies can defend this total or if the Aussies will chase it down to seal the series.
The Windies openers, Shai Hope and Brandon King, got off to a flying start, smashing 66 runs in the first six overs without losing a wicket. Hope was particularly dominant, scoring 43 of those runs. Although King fell at 125, Hope continued his onslaught and went on to score his maiden T20I century. The Windies batters took full advantage of the short boundaries to post a massive total.
The West Indies batting unit has finally found its rhythm, posting an imposing total of 214Â runs on the board.
Nathan Ellis to Romario Shepherd, ! Back-to-back boundaries for Romario Shepherd! Pitched up by Ellis, on off, Romario stays deep in the crease and drills it to the left of mid off for four more. 10 runs off the final over and West Indies end up with 214 on the board!
Nathan Ellis to Romario Shepherd, ! Muscled! This is on a short of a length, on off, Romario Shepherd gets the front leg out of the way and smashes this down the ground to the right of the man at mid off inside the circle.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Nathan Ellis to Romario Shepherd, On a length, around off, Romario Shepherd swings across the line. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and it rolls away on the off side for one.
Nathan Ellis to Rovman Powell, ! TAKEN! Nathan Ellis has his reward!
Romario Shepherd walks out next.Â
Nathan Ellis to Rovman Powell, Nathan Ellis starts well! Nails the wide yorker, Rovman lets it go but the ball sneaks just inside the tramline.
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, In the air...but safe! Lowish full toss, around off, Rovman Powell stays deep in the crease and swings through. Ends up slicing it over extra cover where Mitchell Marsh runs over his left shoulder and slides but the ball falls out of his reach. A single taken.
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, ! Powered away! Ben Dwarshuis goes into the wicket and takes pace off. This sits up to be hit for Powell, who holds his shape and dispatches it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a boundary. 200 comes up for West Indies!
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, Wide! Low full toss and it is sprayed well beyond the guideline on off.
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, Four!
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Rovman Powell walks out next to bat.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, ! RUN OUT! Direct hit and Sherfane Rutherford is gone!
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, MAIDEN T20I TON FOR HOPE! Shai joins Chris Gayle as the 2nd West Indian batter to score centuries in all 3 formats of the game. The Windies skipper has led from the front in this do-or-die clash for the home side. Very full, angled across, Hope gets low and digs it out to deep cover to get to the landmark.
What an over this turned out to be from Nathan Ellis. Just 6 off te over and this might well come back to haunt the Windies who have batted brilliantly so far.Â
Nathan Ellis to Sherfane Rutherford, Going across, slower bumper, Sherfane Rutherford gets on his toes to play the ramp but misses. Sherfane expresses his frustration with it not being called a wide for height. To be fair, the replays did show the ball seemed to go slightly over his head even when Rutherford was on his toes.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, On off, on a short of a length, cut away to deep backward point for a single.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Had the throw hit, Sherfane Rutherford was gone! On a hard length, around off, Hope walks inside the line for the scoop but misses. The ball rolls beside the strip on the leg side off the pads. Rutherford wants to sneak in a single but Shai sends him back. Ellis gets to the ball quickly and turns around to fire in a throw at the bowling end. Sherfane had given up but the throw missed the stumps.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Four!
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Wide! Slower one from Ellis and wider. This is well beyond the tramline on off. The ball bounces in front and Josh Inglis does well to get his body behind the ball.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Goes full and it is just inside the tramline, Hope reaches out but the ball goes past the toe end of the bat.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Angled into the right-hander, on a short of a length, Shai Hope has a swipe across the line but misses on the inside edge as the ball goes over the leg pole.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Two leg byes! At the pads and the length is full, Sherfane Rutherford fails to tickle it away. The ball dribbles off the pads to the left of deep fine leg for a couple of leg byes.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Well bowled! Executes the wide yorker and it sneaks just inside the tramline, Rutherford reaches out and gets low but fails to make any contact.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Full and at pace, on middle, Hope hits it on the bounce to long on for a single.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Wide!
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Leg bye! Yorker, at the toes, Rutherford misses out on the flick. A leg bye is taken as the ball rolls off the boot to the leg side.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Sean takes pace off and this slides across the left-hander, on a back of a length, Sherfane Rutherford swings and misses.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Wide!
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, ! Intentional! Pushed across the left-hander, low full toss, Sherfane Rutherford gets low to make contact with this full toss. Opens the bat face and glides it fine of the man at short third for a boundary.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, Full and wide on off, Sherfane Rutherford squeezes it out off an inside edge to the right of the keeper for a single.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, Full toss at knee height, on off, Sherfane Rutherford swings but gets it high on the bat and the ball goes on the bounce to Ben.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, ! Up and over! Ben Dwarshuis takes pace off and goes into the wicket. Keeps it near the tramline on off, Sherfane Rutherford reaches out and even though one hand comes off the bat, he manages to go over extra cover for a boundary.
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, Nails the yorker this time, on middle, Hope backs away and bunts it in front of extra cover for one.
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, ! Innovative and mighty effective! Ben Dwarshuis comes from around the wicket and goes searching for the yorker. Ends up serving a low full toss, on off, Shai walks inside the line of the ball and scoops it over short fine leg for a four.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, Low full toss, on middle, driven to long off for a single.
Adam Zampa to Sherfane Rutherford, Full toss on middle and leg, Sherfane Rutherford drills this to long on for a single.
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, Thrown full and wide outside off, Shai Hope smashes this to deep point for a single.Â
Adam Zampa to Sherfane Rutherford, Fuller on off, Sherfane Rutherford rolls this to long off and gets off the mark.Â
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, ! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP!
Sherfane Rutherford walks out to bat.
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, ! Overcompensates by going full, on middle and off. Giving Shimron Hetmyer the chance to free his arms. Shimron swings at it and connects well. The ball has sailed over the long on fence for a huge six.Â
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, No run.
Mitchell Marsh was thinking about turning to Ben Dwarshuis but he changed his mind and it will be Adam Zampa to continue. Zampa to bowl out. 3-0-42-0 so far for the leggie.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Brilliant from Nathan Ellis. Slower one, back of the hand around leg. Shai Hope swings wild at it, gets beaten to the pace take off this one. The ball had barely missed the leg pole.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Another set of two as Shai Hope tucks a good length delivery on his pads towards deep square and turns back for two.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Full and wide outside off, Shai Hope backs away and gides this towards deep third's right for two. This was racing to the fence before that diving effort from Tim David to his right to save a couple for his side.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shimron Hetmyer, Good length on off, Shimron Hetmyer punches this to extra cover and takes a quick single.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Back of a length on middle and leg, Shai Hope pulls this flat towards deep mid-wicket for one.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, ! SHAI HOPE HAS BEEN SENSATIONAL SO FAR! CRUNCHED! Good length wide of off, Shai Hope moves to his leg and slaps this past extra cover and into the fence for four. This took no time in racing to the fence once it left the bat of Hope.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, ! This time Shai Hope slogs this wide to the left of cow corner for yet another biggie.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, ! DISPATCHED! Shai Hope keeps peppering the boundary down the ground and it brings him rewards one more time. Full toss, on off. Shai Hope gets up as the ball comes closer to his hitting arc. Smashes this up and over the sight screen for another biggie.Â
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, Shimron Hetmyer showed his cards early by jumping down the track before Zampa let go off the ball. Adam Zampa was clever enough to fire this full and wide outside off. Shimron Hetmyer ends up pushing this towards long off for one.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, Fuller on off, Shai Hope drives this to sweeper cover and rotates strike.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, ! Such has been the game so far for Shai Hope. Flighted on off, Shai Hope prods forwards to push this through cover but gets an outside edge and the ball has raced past the keeper's right and away from the reach of short third to his left for four.Â
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, On a length around the pads, Shai Hope tucks this through mid-wicket and takes a single. End of a successful over for the Aussies as Owen gives 10 but takes an all-important wicket of King in this.Â
Mitchell Owen to Shimron Hetmyer, Too full on the pads, Shimron Hetmyer flicks this to deep square for a single to get off the mark.Â
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, ! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Cramping the batter for any sort of room and making him hit into the wind has worked for the Aussies.Â
Shimron Hetmyer is in at number 3.
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, ! Pumped out of the park. Short-pitched, around middle and leg, Brandon King pulls this in-between deep mid-wicket and deep square for yet another biggie. 10th biggie of the game and 6th off King's bat.Â
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, WIDE! Full and wide down the leg. Brandon King looks for the flick and misses. Wided.Â
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, Comes round the wicket and nails the yorker on middle and leg. BK defends this out.Â
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Good length on off, Shai Hope thumps this to sweeper cover for one.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Much slower and on off, Brandon King goes for the reverse sweep but misses and Josh Inglis gathers this well behind the stumps and removes the bails in a flash. Josh appeals for stumping and the leg umpire sends this upstairs. The replay shows that Brandon King never dragged his foot out of the crease and he is safe.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, No run.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Wide!
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! Another misfield and this time it is Glenn Maxwell off all the players from Australia.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! FIFTY FOR KING! Half-centuries in successive games for King. Short of a length on off, Brandon King moves to his leg and smashes this away to the right of Mitchell Owen at deep point. The tall figure of Owen gets late in getting down and the ball crashes into the fence for four.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, Genuine leggie, around off. Shai Hope backs away and smashes this powerfully down to the long off fielder for one.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Tossed up, wide of off. Brandon King goes for the slog sweep but gets it off the inside, rolling to long on for a single.Â
Time for a drinks break. The Windies openers have been phenomenal! Shai Hope and Brandon King have been in scintillating form, taking the attack to the bowlers and pummeling the short boundary down the ground. With 106 runs on the board without losing a wicket after 10 overs, the home side is in a fantastic position. The visitors need to break the partnership and get some crucial wickets to stem the flow of runs. Taking wickets would definitely put the brakes on the Windies' scoring rate.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, Very full, on off and middle, Brandon King gets under the ball and smashes it back over the bowler's head. Cameron Green gets across from a straightish long on and cuts it off. A single taken. 12 runs off the over. At the halfway mark, West Indies are 106/0.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, ! Clean strike! This slides on with the arm, on the shorter side, Brandon King clears the front leg and swats it over deep mid-wicket for a 89-metre hit. 100 comes up for West Indies!
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Fired in, fuller and at the stumps, knocked to long on for a single.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Slows it down and keeps the line around the off stump, Hope backs away for the cut but ends up chopping it beside him.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Turning back in, on middle, a bit fuller, Hope punches it back to Maxwell.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, ! Thumped! Flat and short, on middle, Shai Hope is quick to get on the back foot and slaps it back over the bowler's head for a boundary.
Glenn Maxwell (1-0-19-0)Â comes back into the attack.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Slower bumper from Sean Abbott, over off, Brandon King offers no shot, thinking it is going over his head but there is no signal for wide. A superb over from Sean, just 3 off it.
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, On a shortish length, on off, Brandon drags the pull to mid-wicket.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, At the stumps, on a length, Hope drives it to long on and takes a single.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Sean goes into the wicket, outside off, Shai Hope lets it go.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, FIFTY FOR HOPE! A knock of high quality from the West Indies' skipper and it has come in a must-win clash. Low full toss, around off, Hope drills it to the right of deep cover for a couple of runs to get to his 8th T20I fifty.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Nails the wide yorker and it sneaks under the blade. Hope fails to squeeze it out.
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, ! High and handsome! Owen tries to follow the batter, on a good length, King gives the bowler the charge and tonks it way over long on for a biggie.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Fuller and slanting into the batter, Shai taps it to long on and takes a single.
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, Owen bashes the surface, over middle, Brandon King steps out and forces it to long on for one.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Angled into the batter, on a good length, Hope pushes it to long on and crosses over.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, ! Fine shot! On a back of a length, on off, Shai Hope gets on top of the bounce and creates the room with his hands. Plays it late to beat the fielder at deep point to his left.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Pace off and into the wicket, on top of off, Hope glides it to backward point.
Mitchell Owen is introduced into the attack. Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Shorter and around off, King rocks back and cuts it towards deep point. A good effort in the deep by Cooper Connolly as he puts in a dive to his left and mops it up. Two runs taken.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! Brandon King does not miss out this time! Zampa gets it a bit too full and around off, Brandon King is allowed to get under the ball and he clobbers it to the left of long on for a flat six.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Slower and fuller, a bit wide on off, Brandon King swings to go down the ground but fails to connect.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Sliding on with the arm, on middle and leg, King jabs at the ball and gets an inside edge onto the pads.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! Punished! Short and wide on off, Brandon King reaches out and slaps it hard square of the wicket on the off side. Cooper Connolly puts in the dive in the deep after a sprint to his left from deep cover but in vain.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Gives the ball a bit of air, full and on off, King knocks it back to Zampa.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, Flat and short, on middle and leg, nudged through mid-wicket for a run. At the end of the Powerplay, West Indies are 66/0.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Six!
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, ! Nothing streaky about this one! Floated up, on a length, on off, Hope clears his front leg and swings through to go back over the bowler's head for a six.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, ! Edged away! Tossed up, at 92.7 kph, wider and fuller on off, Shai Hope backs away and throws his hands at the ball. Gets an outside edge that grazes the gloves of the keeper and races away with no slip in place.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, Pushed through, short and on middle, King flat bats this down to long on for one.
Nathan Ellis to Brandon King, BYE! Slower one, short and around off. Brandon King goes for the pull but gets beaten to the pace taken off this one. The ball bounced in front of Josh Inglis behind the stumps and he fails to gather this clean. A single taken.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Back of a length around off, Shai Hope punches this off the back foot towards cover for one.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, ! NO NONSENSE STROKE FROM HOPE! Goes full pace on. Shai Hope was up for it. Hope stands still and smashes this up and over the bowler and the sight screen for a biggie down the ground. Shai Hope looks in the mood.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Good length around off, Shai Hope punches this towards deep third and jogs back for two.Â
Nathan Ellis to Brandon King, Wide yorker around off, Brandon King toe-pokes this towards Cooper Connolly at short third for just one.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Ellis starts with a back-of-the-hand slower one, on the pads. Shai Hope drops this towards short fine leg and takes one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Slower one, around off. Shai Hope punches this well and away to the right of the fielder at extra cover. A brilliant diving effort, full stretch to the right, takes the sting out of the stroke and keeps it down to just one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Good length around middle and leg, Shai Hope looks to slog this over mid-wicket but gets it off the inside of his bat and rolling towards Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket for no run.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Goes full again, on the pads, Brandon King tucks this to mid on and runs one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, LEG BYE! Full and drifting down the leg. Shai Hope misses on the leg glance and gets it deflected off he pads towards short third for one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Six!
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Clever from Sean as he followed the batter to his leg and cramped King for room. Brandon King cuts this to backward point and takes one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, ! HOPE GETS INTO THE ACT! Full and wide outside off, Shai Hope stays leg side and smashes this up and over the mid off fielder for four. This happens to be the first aggressive stroke from Hope and he has sent this one bounce over the rope for four runs.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, On a length around middle and off, Shai Hope gets an inside edge rolling towards deep square for two.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Good length, angling away from the batter. Brandon King chops this of the under edge towards point for one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, Short and wide outside off, Shai Hope punches this towards mid off and takes a single. Hope needs to up the ante as he is going at a strike rate of just 50 right now.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Length dragged back this time, around middle and leg. Brandon King tucks this through mid-wicket and takes one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, ! THUMPED! Pitched up on middle and leg, Brandon King swings and connects well. The ball flies out of the middle of King's bat and has been deposited into the top tier towards the long on region for a biggie.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Back of a length around off, Shai Hope moves to his leg and pushes this to extra cover to end the over with another dot. Just 2 off this over.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Good length, on top of off. Shai Hope punches this towards cover for a dot.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Bends his back even more, darts a short-pitched delivery. Brandon King shimmies back and away and punts this towards Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket. Maxi misfields this and the batters take one.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Hits the hard length, around middle and off. Brandon King tucks this towards mid-wicket for a dot.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, PHEW! That was a beauty from Sean first up. Length delivery, tailing in and shaping away after pitching. Shai Hope blocks this off his back foot.Â
Who will bowl from the other end? It will be Sean Abbott. A slight hold-up in play as a blue line on the LED sightscreen, which displays ads, seems to be bothering Shai Hope. Tim David tries to lend a hand, even jokingly placing his towel on the sightscreen in an attempt to fix it. The issue has been sorted and we are ready to resume.
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Back of a length around middle and leg. Brandon King hops up on his toes and looks to nudge this around leg but gets beaten and wears it on his pads. 8 off the first over.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, ! SIMPLY SUBLIME! Half-volley outside off, Brandon King steps out in front and just plays the lofted drive. King times this to perfection and the ball has sailed over the fence towards the long off region for the first biggie of the contest.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, King would feel that he missed out on a boundary scoring opportunity. On a length, down the leg. Brandon King goes for the flick but misses out and the ball clips his pads and goes back to the keeper.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, Both the openers are now off the mark. On a length, around the pads. Shai Hope flicks this towards the right of Glenn Maxwell at short mid-wicket. Glenn dives to his right, outstretches his right hand and fields this keeping it down to one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, King gets off the mark with a single. On a fuller length around middle and off, Brandon King tucks this to the right of mid on and gets off the mark.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Straightaway swing on offer. Pitched up around middle and off, shaping into the batter. Brandon King defends this off the front foot.Â
We are all set for the action to commence.
Before we get going, the two teams line up for the national anthems. The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources of St Kitts, Samal Mojah Duggins, steps forward to place the trophy on the pedestal. Up first, it's the anthem of St Kitts and Nevis, followed by that of Australia, and then the West Indies.Â
PITCH REPORT - Samuel Badree is in for a chat. He says he wouldnât want to be a bowler on this wicket and informs that the average winning first-innings score here since 2022 is 205. He points out that one of the key reasons for such high scores is the boundary dimensions. Mentions that the square boundaries measure 61 and 65 meters, with the straight hit being 68 metres. Expects plenty of sixes tonight. Shakera Selman echoes the sentiment, mentioning that bowlers are likely to struggle o
Cameron Green is in for a chat. Expresses his comfort with batting at various positions in the lineup, particularly highlighting the third spot as a favourable one where he feels like an opener. He emphasizes that his approach depends on the openers' performance, adapting to build partnerships if early wickets fall or accelerate when the situation demands it. Green notes that the Australian team is working on being aggressive and positive, leveraging their lineup of six-hitters to attack the op
The skipper of West Indies, Shai Hope, says the key for his side is to carry the same power and intent through the middle phase as they do at the back end. Mentions that they started well in the last game and need to replicate that strong start again. Hope shares that the biggest focus is on backing their own skills and it is all about the right mindset. He also urges the players to understand the pride that comes with playing for the West Indies and feels it is a great opportunity to turn thing
West Indies (Playing XI) - Brandon King, Shai Hope (C/WK), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford (In for Andre Russell), Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd, Jediah Blades (On T20I debut) (In for Alzarri Joseph).Â
Australian captain Mitchell Marsh informs that his team would bowl first, citing the small ground and strong breeze as key factors. He believes these conditions will give his bowling unit an advantage and hopes they can restrict the opposition to a reasonable total. Marsh described the ground as the smallest he's seen in world cricket, predicting that the ball will travel quickly. He emphasized that the team is looking to improve and will stick to their plans. With Sean Abbott replacing Matthew
Australia (Playing XI) - Mitchell Marsh (C), Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (WK), Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.
... The Run Chase ...
Brandon King of West Indies is in for a chat. He says that it is always a good wicket here with the small boundaries. Mentions that the talk has been about converting starts and Shai Hope did that brilliantly tonight. Feels that it is always good to show some consistency and reckons that it is easier in this format, where it is basically go hard or go home.
Australian bowlers didn't have that bad a game, the Windies' batting was exceptional. The Aussies' death bowling was impressive, though. Mitchell Owen, Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa took one apiece. Now, it all comes down to whether the Windies can defend this total or if the Aussies will chase it down to seal the series.
The Windies openers, Shai Hope and Brandon King, got off to a flying start, smashing 66 runs in the first six overs without losing a wicket. Hope was particularly dominant, scoring 43 of those runs. Although King fell at 125, Hope continued his onslaught and went on to score his maiden T20I century. The Windies batters took full advantage of the short boundaries to post a massive total.
The West Indies batting unit has finally found its rhythm, posting an imposing total of 214Â runs on the board.
Nathan Ellis to Romario Shepherd, ! Back-to-back boundaries for Romario Shepherd! Pitched up by Ellis, on off, Romario stays deep in the crease and drills it to the left of mid off for four more. 10 runs off the final over and West Indies end up with 214 on the board!
Nathan Ellis to Romario Shepherd, ! Muscled! This is on a short of a length, on off, Romario Shepherd gets the front leg out of the way and smashes this down the ground to the right of the man at mid off inside the circle.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Nathan Ellis to Romario Shepherd, On a length, around off, Romario Shepherd swings across the line. Gets an inside edge onto the pads and it rolls away on the off side for one.
Nathan Ellis to Rovman Powell, ! TAKEN! Nathan Ellis has his reward!
Romario Shepherd walks out next.Â
Nathan Ellis to Rovman Powell, Nathan Ellis starts well! Nails the wide yorker, Rovman lets it go but the ball sneaks just inside the tramline.
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, In the air...but safe! Lowish full toss, around off, Rovman Powell stays deep in the crease and swings through. Ends up slicing it over extra cover where Mitchell Marsh runs over his left shoulder and slides but the ball falls out of his reach. A single taken.
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, ! Powered away! Ben Dwarshuis goes into the wicket and takes pace off. This sits up to be hit for Powell, who holds his shape and dispatches it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a boundary. 200 comes up for West Indies!
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, Wide! Low full toss and it is sprayed well beyond the guideline on off.
Ben Dwarshuis to Rovman Powell, Four!
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Rovman Powell walks out next to bat.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, ! RUN OUT! Direct hit and Sherfane Rutherford is gone!
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, MAIDEN T20I TON FOR HOPE! Shai joins Chris Gayle as the 2nd West Indian batter to score centuries in all 3 formats of the game. The Windies skipper has led from the front in this do-or-die clash for the home side. Very full, angled across, Hope gets low and digs it out to deep cover to get to the landmark.
What an over this turned out to be from Nathan Ellis. Just 6 off te over and this might well come back to haunt the Windies who have batted brilliantly so far.Â
Nathan Ellis to Sherfane Rutherford, Going across, slower bumper, Sherfane Rutherford gets on his toes to play the ramp but misses. Sherfane expresses his frustration with it not being called a wide for height. To be fair, the replays did show the ball seemed to go slightly over his head even when Rutherford was on his toes.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, On off, on a short of a length, cut away to deep backward point for a single.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Had the throw hit, Sherfane Rutherford was gone! On a hard length, around off, Hope walks inside the line for the scoop but misses. The ball rolls beside the strip on the leg side off the pads. Rutherford wants to sneak in a single but Shai sends him back. Ellis gets to the ball quickly and turns around to fire in a throw at the bowling end. Sherfane had given up but the throw missed the stumps.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Four!
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Wide! Slower one from Ellis and wider. This is well beyond the tramline on off. The ball bounces in front and Josh Inglis does well to get his body behind the ball.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Goes full and it is just inside the tramline, Hope reaches out but the ball goes past the toe end of the bat.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Angled into the right-hander, on a short of a length, Shai Hope has a swipe across the line but misses on the inside edge as the ball goes over the leg pole.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Two leg byes! At the pads and the length is full, Sherfane Rutherford fails to tickle it away. The ball dribbles off the pads to the left of deep fine leg for a couple of leg byes.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Well bowled! Executes the wide yorker and it sneaks just inside the tramline, Rutherford reaches out and gets low but fails to make any contact.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Full and at pace, on middle, Hope hits it on the bounce to long on for a single.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Wide!
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Leg bye! Yorker, at the toes, Rutherford misses out on the flick. A leg bye is taken as the ball rolls off the boot to the leg side.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Sean takes pace off and this slides across the left-hander, on a back of a length, Sherfane Rutherford swings and misses.
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, Wide!
Sean Abbott to Sherfane Rutherford, ! Intentional! Pushed across the left-hander, low full toss, Sherfane Rutherford gets low to make contact with this full toss. Opens the bat face and glides it fine of the man at short third for a boundary.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, Full and wide on off, Sherfane Rutherford squeezes it out off an inside edge to the right of the keeper for a single.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, Full toss at knee height, on off, Sherfane Rutherford swings but gets it high on the bat and the ball goes on the bounce to Ben.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, ! Up and over! Ben Dwarshuis takes pace off and goes into the wicket. Keeps it near the tramline on off, Sherfane Rutherford reaches out and even though one hand comes off the bat, he manages to go over extra cover for a boundary.
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, Nails the yorker this time, on middle, Hope backs away and bunts it in front of extra cover for one.
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, ! Innovative and mighty effective! Ben Dwarshuis comes from around the wicket and goes searching for the yorker. Ends up serving a low full toss, on off, Shai walks inside the line of the ball and scoops it over short fine leg for a four.
Ben Dwarshuis to Sherfane Rutherford, Low full toss, on middle, driven to long off for a single.
Adam Zampa to Sherfane Rutherford, Full toss on middle and leg, Sherfane Rutherford drills this to long on for a single.
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, Thrown full and wide outside off, Shai Hope smashes this to deep point for a single.Â
Adam Zampa to Sherfane Rutherford, Fuller on off, Sherfane Rutherford rolls this to long off and gets off the mark.Â
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, ! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP!
Sherfane Rutherford walks out to bat.
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, ! Overcompensates by going full, on middle and off. Giving Shimron Hetmyer the chance to free his arms. Shimron swings at it and connects well. The ball has sailed over the long on fence for a huge six.Â
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, No run.
Mitchell Marsh was thinking about turning to Ben Dwarshuis but he changed his mind and it will be Adam Zampa to continue. Zampa to bowl out. 3-0-42-0 so far for the leggie.
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Brilliant from Nathan Ellis. Slower one, back of the hand around leg. Shai Hope swings wild at it, gets beaten to the pace take off this one. The ball had barely missed the leg pole.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Another set of two as Shai Hope tucks a good length delivery on his pads towards deep square and turns back for two.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Full and wide outside off, Shai Hope backs away and gides this towards deep third's right for two. This was racing to the fence before that diving effort from Tim David to his right to save a couple for his side.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shimron Hetmyer, Good length on off, Shimron Hetmyer punches this to extra cover and takes a quick single.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Back of a length on middle and leg, Shai Hope pulls this flat towards deep mid-wicket for one.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, ! SHAI HOPE HAS BEEN SENSATIONAL SO FAR! CRUNCHED! Good length wide of off, Shai Hope moves to his leg and slaps this past extra cover and into the fence for four. This took no time in racing to the fence once it left the bat of Hope.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, ! This time Shai Hope slogs this wide to the left of cow corner for yet another biggie.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, ! DISPATCHED! Shai Hope keeps peppering the boundary down the ground and it brings him rewards one more time. Full toss, on off. Shai Hope gets up as the ball comes closer to his hitting arc. Smashes this up and over the sight screen for another biggie.Â
Adam Zampa to Shimron Hetmyer, Shimron Hetmyer showed his cards early by jumping down the track before Zampa let go off the ball. Adam Zampa was clever enough to fire this full and wide outside off. Shimron Hetmyer ends up pushing this towards long off for one.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, Fuller on off, Shai Hope drives this to sweeper cover and rotates strike.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, ! Such has been the game so far for Shai Hope. Flighted on off, Shai Hope prods forwards to push this through cover but gets an outside edge and the ball has raced past the keeper's right and away from the reach of short third to his left for four.Â
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, On a length around the pads, Shai Hope tucks this through mid-wicket and takes a single. End of a successful over for the Aussies as Owen gives 10 but takes an all-important wicket of King in this.Â
Mitchell Owen to Shimron Hetmyer, Too full on the pads, Shimron Hetmyer flicks this to deep square for a single to get off the mark.Â
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, ! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Cramping the batter for any sort of room and making him hit into the wind has worked for the Aussies.Â
Shimron Hetmyer is in at number 3.
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, ! Pumped out of the park. Short-pitched, around middle and leg, Brandon King pulls this in-between deep mid-wicket and deep square for yet another biggie. 10th biggie of the game and 6th off King's bat.Â
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, WIDE! Full and wide down the leg. Brandon King looks for the flick and misses. Wided.Â
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, Comes round the wicket and nails the yorker on middle and leg. BK defends this out.Â
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Good length on off, Shai Hope thumps this to sweeper cover for one.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Much slower and on off, Brandon King goes for the reverse sweep but misses and Josh Inglis gathers this well behind the stumps and removes the bails in a flash. Josh appeals for stumping and the leg umpire sends this upstairs. The replay shows that Brandon King never dragged his foot out of the crease and he is safe.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, No run.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Wide!
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! Another misfield and this time it is Glenn Maxwell off all the players from Australia.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! FIFTY FOR KING! Half-centuries in successive games for King. Short of a length on off, Brandon King moves to his leg and smashes this away to the right of Mitchell Owen at deep point. The tall figure of Owen gets late in getting down and the ball crashes into the fence for four.Â
Adam Zampa to Shai Hope, Genuine leggie, around off. Shai Hope backs away and smashes this powerfully down to the long off fielder for one.Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Tossed up, wide of off. Brandon King goes for the slog sweep but gets it off the inside, rolling to long on for a single.Â
Time for a drinks break. The Windies openers have been phenomenal! Shai Hope and Brandon King have been in scintillating form, taking the attack to the bowlers and pummeling the short boundary down the ground. With 106 runs on the board without losing a wicket after 10 overs, the home side is in a fantastic position. The visitors need to break the partnership and get some crucial wickets to stem the flow of runs. Taking wickets would definitely put the brakes on the Windies' scoring rate.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, Very full, on off and middle, Brandon King gets under the ball and smashes it back over the bowler's head. Cameron Green gets across from a straightish long on and cuts it off. A single taken. 12 runs off the over. At the halfway mark, West Indies are 106/0.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, ! Clean strike! This slides on with the arm, on the shorter side, Brandon King clears the front leg and swats it over deep mid-wicket for a 89-metre hit. 100 comes up for West Indies!
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Fired in, fuller and at the stumps, knocked to long on for a single.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Slows it down and keeps the line around the off stump, Hope backs away for the cut but ends up chopping it beside him.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Turning back in, on middle, a bit fuller, Hope punches it back to Maxwell.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, ! Thumped! Flat and short, on middle, Shai Hope is quick to get on the back foot and slaps it back over the bowler's head for a boundary.
Glenn Maxwell (1-0-19-0)Â comes back into the attack.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Slower bumper from Sean Abbott, over off, Brandon King offers no shot, thinking it is going over his head but there is no signal for wide. A superb over from Sean, just 3 off it.
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, On a shortish length, on off, Brandon drags the pull to mid-wicket.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, At the stumps, on a length, Hope drives it to long on and takes a single.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Sean goes into the wicket, outside off, Shai Hope lets it go.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, FIFTY FOR HOPE! A knock of high quality from the West Indies' skipper and it has come in a must-win clash. Low full toss, around off, Hope drills it to the right of deep cover for a couple of runs to get to his 8th T20I fifty.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Nails the wide yorker and it sneaks under the blade. Hope fails to squeeze it out.
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, ! High and handsome! Owen tries to follow the batter, on a good length, King gives the bowler the charge and tonks it way over long on for a biggie.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Fuller and slanting into the batter, Shai taps it to long on and takes a single.
Mitchell Owen to Brandon King, Owen bashes the surface, over middle, Brandon King steps out and forces it to long on for one.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Angled into the batter, on a good length, Hope pushes it to long on and crosses over.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, ! Fine shot! On a back of a length, on off, Shai Hope gets on top of the bounce and creates the room with his hands. Plays it late to beat the fielder at deep point to his left.
Mitchell Owen to Shai Hope, Pace off and into the wicket, on top of off, Hope glides it to backward point.
Mitchell Owen is introduced into the attack. Â
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Shorter and around off, King rocks back and cuts it towards deep point. A good effort in the deep by Cooper Connolly as he puts in a dive to his left and mops it up. Two runs taken.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! Brandon King does not miss out this time! Zampa gets it a bit too full and around off, Brandon King is allowed to get under the ball and he clobbers it to the left of long on for a flat six.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Slower and fuller, a bit wide on off, Brandon King swings to go down the ground but fails to connect.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Sliding on with the arm, on middle and leg, King jabs at the ball and gets an inside edge onto the pads.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, ! Punished! Short and wide on off, Brandon King reaches out and slaps it hard square of the wicket on the off side. Cooper Connolly puts in the dive in the deep after a sprint to his left from deep cover but in vain.
Adam Zampa to Brandon King, Gives the ball a bit of air, full and on off, King knocks it back to Zampa.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, Flat and short, on middle and leg, nudged through mid-wicket for a run. At the end of the Powerplay, West Indies are 66/0.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, Six!
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, ! Nothing streaky about this one! Floated up, on a length, on off, Hope clears his front leg and swings through to go back over the bowler's head for a six.
Glenn Maxwell to Shai Hope, ! Edged away! Tossed up, at 92.7 kph, wider and fuller on off, Shai Hope backs away and throws his hands at the ball. Gets an outside edge that grazes the gloves of the keeper and races away with no slip in place.
Glenn Maxwell to Brandon King, Pushed through, short and on middle, King flat bats this down to long on for one.
Nathan Ellis to Brandon King, BYE! Slower one, short and around off. Brandon King goes for the pull but gets beaten to the pace taken off this one. The ball bounced in front of Josh Inglis behind the stumps and he fails to gather this clean. A single taken.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Back of a length around off, Shai Hope punches this off the back foot towards cover for one.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, ! NO NONSENSE STROKE FROM HOPE! Goes full pace on. Shai Hope was up for it. Hope stands still and smashes this up and over the bowler and the sight screen for a biggie down the ground. Shai Hope looks in the mood.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Good length around off, Shai Hope punches this towards deep third and jogs back for two.Â
Nathan Ellis to Brandon King, Wide yorker around off, Brandon King toe-pokes this towards Cooper Connolly at short third for just one.Â
Nathan Ellis to Shai Hope, Ellis starts with a back-of-the-hand slower one, on the pads. Shai Hope drops this towards short fine leg and takes one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Slower one, around off. Shai Hope punches this well and away to the right of the fielder at extra cover. A brilliant diving effort, full stretch to the right, takes the sting out of the stroke and keeps it down to just one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Good length around middle and leg, Shai Hope looks to slog this over mid-wicket but gets it off the inside of his bat and rolling towards Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket for no run.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Goes full again, on the pads, Brandon King tucks this to mid on and runs one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, LEG BYE! Full and drifting down the leg. Shai Hope misses on the leg glance and gets it deflected off he pads towards short third for one.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Six!
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Clever from Sean as he followed the batter to his leg and cramped King for room. Brandon King cuts this to backward point and takes one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, ! HOPE GETS INTO THE ACT! Full and wide outside off, Shai Hope stays leg side and smashes this up and over the mid off fielder for four. This happens to be the first aggressive stroke from Hope and he has sent this one bounce over the rope for four runs.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, On a length around middle and off, Shai Hope gets an inside edge rolling towards deep square for two.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Good length, angling away from the batter. Brandon King chops this of the under edge towards point for one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, Short and wide outside off, Shai Hope punches this towards mid off and takes a single. Hope needs to up the ante as he is going at a strike rate of just 50 right now.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Length dragged back this time, around middle and leg. Brandon King tucks this through mid-wicket and takes one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, ! THUMPED! Pitched up on middle and leg, Brandon King swings and connects well. The ball flies out of the middle of King's bat and has been deposited into the top tier towards the long on region for a biggie.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Back of a length around off, Shai Hope moves to his leg and pushes this to extra cover to end the over with another dot. Just 2 off this over.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, Good length, on top of off. Shai Hope punches this towards cover for a dot.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Bends his back even more, darts a short-pitched delivery. Brandon King shimmies back and away and punts this towards Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket. Maxi misfields this and the batters take one.Â
Sean Abbott to Brandon King, Hits the hard length, around middle and off. Brandon King tucks this towards mid-wicket for a dot.Â
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, 1 run.
Sean Abbott to Shai Hope, PHEW! That was a beauty from Sean first up. Length delivery, tailing in and shaping away after pitching. Shai Hope blocks this off his back foot.Â
Who will bowl from the other end? It will be Sean Abbott. A slight hold-up in play as a blue line on the LED sightscreen, which displays ads, seems to be bothering Shai Hope. Tim David tries to lend a hand, even jokingly placing his towel on the sightscreen in an attempt to fix it. The issue has been sorted and we are ready to resume.
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Back of a length around middle and leg. Brandon King hops up on his toes and looks to nudge this around leg but gets beaten and wears it on his pads. 8 off the first over.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, ! SIMPLY SUBLIME! Half-volley outside off, Brandon King steps out in front and just plays the lofted drive. King times this to perfection and the ball has sailed over the fence towards the long off region for the first biggie of the contest.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, King would feel that he missed out on a boundary scoring opportunity. On a length, down the leg. Brandon King goes for the flick but misses out and the ball clips his pads and goes back to the keeper.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Shai Hope, Both the openers are now off the mark. On a length, around the pads. Shai Hope flicks this towards the right of Glenn Maxwell at short mid-wicket. Glenn dives to his right, outstretches his right hand and fields this keeping it down to one.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, King gets off the mark with a single. On a fuller length around middle and off, Brandon King tucks this to the right of mid on and gets off the mark.Â
Ben Dwarshuis to Brandon King, Straightaway swing on offer. Pitched up around middle and off, shaping into the batter. Brandon King defends this off the front foot.Â
We are all set for the action to commence.
Before we get going, the two teams line up for the national anthems. The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources of St Kitts, Samal Mojah Duggins, steps forward to place the trophy on the pedestal. Up first, it's the anthem of St Kitts and Nevis, followed by that of Australia, and then the West Indies.Â
PITCH REPORT - Samuel Badree is in for a chat. He says he wouldnât want to be a bowler on this wicket and informs that the average winning first-innings score here since 2022 is 205. He points out that one of the key reasons for such high scores is the boundary dimensions. Mentions that the square boundaries measure 61 and 65 meters, with the straight hit being 68 metres. Expects plenty of sixes tonight. Shakera Selman echoes the sentiment, mentioning that bowlers are likely to struggle o
Cameron Green is in for a chat. Expresses his comfort with batting at various positions in the lineup, particularly highlighting the third spot as a favourable one where he feels like an opener. He emphasizes that his approach depends on the openers' performance, adapting to build partnerships if early wickets fall or accelerate when the situation demands it. Green notes that the Australian team is working on being aggressive and positive, leveraging their lineup of six-hitters to attack the op
The skipper of West Indies, Shai Hope, says the key for his side is to carry the same power and intent through the middle phase as they do at the back end. Mentions that they started well in the last game and need to replicate that strong start again. Hope shares that the biggest focus is on backing their own skills and it is all about the right mindset. He also urges the players to understand the pride that comes with playing for the West Indies and feels it is a great opportunity to turn thing
West Indies (Playing XI) - Brandon King, Shai Hope (C/WK), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford (In for Andre Russell), Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd, Jediah Blades (On T20I debut) (In for Alzarri Joseph).Â
Australian captain Mitchell Marsh informs that his team would bowl first, citing the small ground and strong breeze as key factors. He believes these conditions will give his bowling unit an advantage and hopes they can restrict the opposition to a reasonable total. Marsh described the ground as the smallest he's seen in world cricket, predicting that the ball will travel quickly. He emphasized that the team is looking to improve and will stick to their plans. With Sean Abbott replacing Matthew
Australia (Playing XI) - Mitchell Marsh (C), Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (WK), Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.