BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Australia is one match away from clear sweeping the West Indies on their tour of the Caribbean after securing an thrilling three-wicket win within the fourth T20I right here at Warner Park on Saturday.
West Indies did properly to rise up to 205 for 9 from their 20 overs after struggling a top-order collapse. Nonetheless, led by very good energy hitting from Glenn Maxwell and half centuries by Josh Inglis and Cameron Inexperienced, Australia reached 206 for seven off 19.2 overs.
The consequence gave the guests a commanding 4-0 lead within the five-match sequence, with the ultimate match slated to be held on Monday on the identical venue.
It additionally means the house facet has but to win a match after having been swept 3-0 within the previous Check sequence.
Equally to the earlier three matches within the sequence, Australia gained the toss and elected to area first.
West Indies discovered themselves in a spot of trouble early on at 67 for 4, due primarily to the efforts of pacer Xavier Bartlett.
Enjoying in his first sport of the sequence, Bartlett dismissed openers Brandon King and Shai Hope cheaply for 18 and 10, respectively.
Roston Chase was then spectacularly caught one-handed at mid on by a leaping Glen Maxwell for a duck, earlier than Sherfane Rutherford, who had appeared good in his 31 off simply 15 balls, sliced leg spinner Adam Zampa straight to backward level, the place captain Mitchell Marsh took the catch.
Regardless of the early losses, Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell saved the run price above 10 runs per over.
Nonetheless, Hetmyer fell when he skied Sean Abott to deep backward level the place Mitchell Owen took a shocking catch diving at full size, as West Indies slid to 111 for 5 on the midway mark.
With simply eight runs added, Powell picked out deep midwicket to be out for 28 from 22 balls to go away the house facet in peril of being bowled out contained in the allotted overs.
Nonetheless, Romario Shepherd, who belted 28 from 18 balls, Jason Holder (26 off 16 balls), together with beneficial contributions from Akeal Hosein, who completed unbeaten on 16, and Matthew Forde, who made 15 off simply seven deliveries, acquired them as much as a good whole.
Zampa led the way in which for Australia, selecting up 3-54, whereas Hardie (2-24), Bartlett (2-39), and Abbott (2-61) offered good assist.
The house facet acquired off to a dream begin when left-arm pacer Jediah Blades trapped Marsh lbw with the second ball of the innings with no run on the board.
Participant-of-the-Match Maxwell and Inglis then added 66 runs in six overs, with the latter dominating the partnership.
Inglis hit Blades for 3 fours within the third over after which blasted Shepherd for 4 consecutive boundaries within the ensuing over.
He moved into the 40s by reverse sweeping Forde for 4 after which hitting him over midwicket for six, and introduced up his 50 off 28 balls by scampering two runs off Holder.
Inglis didn’t final for much longer, although, flicking Shepherd straight to Rutherford at deep backward sq. to be out for 51 off 30 balls with 10 fours and one six.
His departure ignited a flame inside Maxwell, who had solely contributed eight runs off 5 balls.
Maxwell hit Shepherd for a six and 4 to finish the seventh over after which clubbed Forde for 2 sixes within the ninth over.
Shepherd was hit for 2 extra sixes to maneuver Maxwell nearby of a half century, however he picked out Holder at lengthy on off the bowling of Akeal Hosein, to be dismissed for 47 from 18 balls, as Australia fell to 129 for 3 within the tenth over.
Blades then accounted for the wickets of Owen and Cooper Connolly for 2 and a duck, respectively, to see Australia stoop to 134 for 5.
Cameron Inexperienced, who hit an unbeaten 55 from 35 balls, inclusive of three sixes and three fours, then added 51 runs with Aaron Hardie, who made 23, after which shared a beneficial 18-run partnership with Bartlett to see Australia to victory.
Blades was the West Indies’ finest bowler with 3-29 from his 4 overs.
