David Warner marked his 100th appearance in the T20I format for Australia with a fine knock as Australia secured a 11-run win over the West Indies on Friday, February 9 in the first match of the series. David Warner, who was making his comeback into the T20I team, hit 12 boundaries and a six as he roared back into form after his lackluster run in the ILT20 for the Delhi Capitals.
David Warner smashed a half-century in his 100th T20I before leg spinner Adam Zampa starred with three wickets as Australia held off a barnstorming chase from a full-strength West Indies in the series-opener at Bellerive Oval. Australia welcomed back the likes of Adam Zampa and Maxwell into their lineup as well, with the leg-spinner’s magical spell ensuring that the visitors couldn’t capitalize on the momentum they created in their chase of 214 runs for victory in a batting paradise in Hobart.
Pitch Toss and Teams.
After an exhilarating One Day International (ODI) series, cricket fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming T20 International (T20I) series between Australia and West Indies. The showdown is scheduled to kick off on February 9 at the iconic Bellerive Oval in Hobart, promising another thrilling display of cricketing prowess.
In this shorter format of the game, Mitchell Marsh is set to lead the Australian squad, bringing his experience and formidable skills to the forefront. On the opposing side, Rovman Powell will take charge as the captain of the West Indies team. With his dynamic style of play and strategic acumen, Powell aims to rally his teammates.
Bellerive Oval pitch report:
Matches held at this venue provide a balanced and unbiased environment for both batters and bowlers. Extensive modifications to the playing surface have promoted a fairer competition, catering to the needs of both batting and bowling.
Toss and Teams :
West Indies team bolstered by returns of their T20Is regulars under Rovman Powell won the toss and choose to bowl. For Australia Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa marked their return to the team led by all rounder Mitchell Marsh and swashbuckling David Warner was set to play his 100th T20I international. The three-match series effectively starts T20 World Cup preparations for both teams with game two to be played in Adelaide on Sunday.
David Warner’s brilliance powers Australia to 213.
David Warner is essentially a lock for the T20 World Cup, which will be his international cricket swansong. But the race is on to find his opening partner with Josh Inglis getting first crack having impressed at the top of the order in the ODI series. Playing in his 16th T20I, Inglis opened for the first time having made a century in India late last year batting at No.3. With Matthew Wade taking the gloves, Inglis played as a specialist batter and was an onlooker initially as Warner flayed the new ball.
Inglis never quite found his timing but still showed his 360-degree range to make 39 off 25 balls. He started by giving himself room to smash left-arm spinner Akeal Hossein through the off-side in a favored stroke. His best stroke was a clever reverse lap scoop off Andre Russell to showcase his cavalier batting before unfurling a full-blooded pull shot in a reminder that his game was honed on bouncy WACA pitches.
Inglis fell to a slower delivery from Jason Holder, who had earlier been targeted by a rampaging Warner. Having struggled on sluggish UAE pitches in the ILT20, Warner enjoyed the faster surface as he raced to his half-century off 22 balls. But he slowed down after the wicket of Inglis before falling to a slower Alzarri Joseph delivery in the 13th over.
West Indies had won the toss on the day and opted to field first. The move from Rovman Powell quickly seemed like a mistake as Warner got off to the perfect start, with a boundary off the third ball he faced. The next over would see the opener take apart Jason Holder for four boundaries.
This was a special day for David Warner as he joined the likes of Virat Kohli and Ross Taylor to become the third cricketer to play 100+ international matches in all formats of the game.
Warner would get a second life when his shot almost stuck in Akeal Hossein’s right hand. The opener raced to 48 off 20 balls, before he got another lifeline as Nicholas Pooran put down a chance of Romario Shepherd. Warner got to his fifty in just 22 balls as Josh Inglis provided good support from the other end with Australia getting to 93 in just 8 overs. Holder dismissed Inglis to put the brakes on the scoring rate.
Skipper Mitchell Marsh wasn’t at his best as he struggled to get going, despite a monster six off Andre Russell’s bowling. Marsh ultimately fell to Alzarri Joseph as West Indies were looking for a way back into the game. Warner scored 70 off 36 balls, before falling to Joseph in the same over as the visitors found the opening and also added Marcus Stoinis soon after.
With Glenn Maxwell also falling soon after, the onus fell on Tim David and Matthew Wade to provide a perfect finish to the innings. David took apart the Windies bowling attack with a 17-ball 37 and got support from Wade, who scored 21.Australia ended up scoring 213 for the loss of seven wickets in their 20 overs.
West Indies’ seamers fight back by taking the pace off
After electing to bowl, captain Rovman Powell had hoped for early inroads on a grassy surface, but his attack struggled to threaten with the new ball. West Indies were stacked with allrounders and Joseph was their only bowler with genuine speed. And his extra pace accounted for Mitchell Marsh, who played despite testing positive for Covid-19, and kick-started a West Indies fightback.
Their seamers took the pace off in the backend with slower balls accounting for several wickets as Australia’s big-hitters attempted to clear the ground. But they were hapless at the death against David as Australia finished with a flurry.
West Indies’ strategy of relying on slower deliveries seems fraught with danger on harder Australian pitches, but appears a blueprint for the expected slower surfaces at their home World Cup. They will want to address their sloppy fielding mired by a couple of dropped catches and misfields. With 213 on the board and the fiery West Indies batting line up to follow 213 as a target would have never be small for West Indies but leg spinner Adam Zampa and Australia had some other plans for the Windies batters.
West Indies’ big-hitters go for broke as Brandon King scores quickfire half century
West Indies’ batting-order barely fired a shot in the ODI series, but they were beefed up by a slew of powerful batters. King and Charles were both unavailable due to T20 franchise cricket commitments, but were welcomed back with open arms as they slaughtered the new ball.
They started quickly and in the third over bludgeoned Glenn Maxwell’s offspin for 17 runs. Even the normally miserly Josh Hazlewood was monstered by Charles for a huge six out of the ground which required a replacement ball. But Charles holed out to Zampa in the ninth over while King reached a half-century off 36 deliveries, but fell on the next ball attempting to hit Marcus Stoinis for six on the leg-side. West Indies continued to go the aerial route, but fell away despite a late onslaught from Holder.
Behrendorff cops early treatment, Zampa outsmarts West Indies
Australia’s frontline pace attack is obviously settled, but intrigue surrounds which other quicks will be selected for the World Cup. After starring last year, including a breakout IPL, left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff is in the mix and he was selected for this series with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc rested.
But the windy conditions made it difficult for Behrendorff to generate his trademark swing and he was whacked for 16 runs in the first over. He claimed the late wicket of Romario Shepherd to finish with 1 for 38 off 3 overs. It was left to Zampa to steady Australia and he produced a brilliant 16th over to claim the wickets of Russell and Nicholas Pooran which closed the door on West Indies.
Zampa’s spin web traps West Indies batters in chase.
The West Indies chase would get off to the perfect start with Brandon King and Johnson Charles taking the attack to the Australian bowlers. King and Charles scored 89 for the first wicket in just 8.3 overs before Adam Zampa came in to change the course of the match.
Zampa got the wicket of Charles to break the partnership and halt the momentum of the visitors. King gets a well-deserved fifty before perishing with the score at 100. Rovman Powell provided some brief entertainment with his 5-ball 14 before he fell to Maxwell with the score at 115 for three in 12 overs.
Pooran struggled to find his usual rhythm as Shai Hope’s wicket put West Indies in trouble. Zampa dismissed the dangerous Russell and Pooran in the same over to end with figures of 3 for 26 in his four overs. Sherfane Rutherford and Shepherd couldn’t make much of an impact with the bat as Australia seemed to have sealed the game with just two wickets remaining.
However, Holder decided to make things interesting as he played a few lusty blows. 27 was need in the final over and The West Indies all-rounder started off with a six and a boundary off Abbott to increase the tension inside the ground. Abbott was able to hold his nerve in the final moments and ensured that Australia got over the line in the end by 11 runs keeping West Indies to 202 for 8 at the end of their 20 overs.
Presentations and Road Ahead.
Matthew Wade Australia vice-captain said: (Speaking on behalf of Marsh who has Covid-19) I think he’s (Marsh) okay, probably looking for a couple more negative tests to get back in the group. The West Indies are a great T20 side. We just had enough on the board. We were looking to score and go over 220, that’s the luxury we have with 7 batters.
Was nice to see Tim (David) come out and whack it around. He’s (Zampa) class, you can just bank on his 4 overs, I’m sure the captain is very happy to have him in the team.
Rovman Powell West Indies captain said: We struggled to get partnerships in the middle, good game of cricket in the end though. Need to back ourselves a little bit more. I think the guys did well, just in the middle overs we lost a little bit. (About bowling himself more) When you have set batters and a difficult wicket, it’s difficult to bowl back to back overs so I brought on my strike bowler after we got a wicket. Was a nice atmosphere to play in.
David Warner was Player of the Match for his brilliant 70 of 36 balls : Pleasing to get the win on the board. Was a nice wicket to bat on and you have to make the most of those. Feel great and refreshed, I’m pumped. I want to play the T20 World Cup and it’s a good journey we’ve got going for the next 6 months. Pretty much the same squad going to New Zealand so it’s important we win there as well.
A good effort from the West Indies but they end up 11 runs short. A day packed with runs here as over 400 of them were scored across both innings. Needing 214 to win, the West Indies got off to the perfect start. King and Charles were smoking it to all parts of the ground till Zampa broke their 89-run opening stand in the 9th over.
King got to his fifty but couldn’t carry on much longer either. Plenty of middle-order batters got off to starts but couldn’t kick on and that’s probably what cost the West Indies. Zampa returned for another spell and struck a double-blow. There was some excitement towards the end as Holder managed to get some away but in the end, the Australians had scored a few too many earlier in the day.
A nice win for Australia as they take the lead in this 3-match series. West indies will be pleased with the fight they showed and would love to cross the line when the two sides meet again at Adelaide Oval for 2nd T20I on Sunday.