Australia achieved an eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second T20I at the picturesque location of Sabina Park, Jamaica.
Josh Inglis and Cameron Green stole the show with the bat, annihilating a target of 173 with brutal precision.
The toss had been won by Marsh himself, who in his capacity as team captain had chosen to field. In return, the team delivered a perfect package of bowling.
Andre Russell’s farewell turned bittersweet as Australia clinched a series win by installing a 2-0 series lead.
Inglis and Green power Australia past 173 with brutal ease.
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Josh Inglis took to the crease and stunned the home crowd. He remained unbeaten on 78 off 33 balls, hitting five sixes and seven fours.
Cameron Green played a more subdued role, scoring an unbeaten 56 runs off 32 balls. Together, they had an unbroken stand of 131 runs for the third wicket.
It remains Australia’s highest partnership for the third wicket against the West Indies in T20Is. Glenn Maxwell and Tim David came with short cameos, but they did a great job in lifting the team’s spirit.
Australia finally chased the target in only 15.2 overs, leaving 28 balls to spare.
Did the Windies start strong enough?
West Indies batted first and went for a flurry start. Brandon King was at his gritty best to make 51 from 36 balls. Russell, playing his last international game, unleashed a short blast of fireworks.
He made 36 from 15 balls in a hurry, knocking down four massive sixes. The stadium was a riot from when Russell left the pavilion amidst a guard of honour.
There, at that time, the middle order vanished. They went from a solid 3/98 to an embarrassingly flailing 8/172. The Australian bowlers kept control of the match during the middle overs.
Glenn Maxwell had help from Adam Zampa, with figures of 2/15 and 3/29, respectively. Debutant Matthew Kuhnemann bowled with much control, conceding 33 runs off just four overs.
Russell’s farewell soured as Australia sealed the series with a 2–0 lead.
Why was Jake Fraser-McGurk dropped?
Jake Fraser-McGurk had the opportunity to play in the series opener but could muster only two runs off seven balls. In the second T20I, Tim David took the field, and with his experience and composure, he commanded respect in the dressing room.
While Fraser-McGurk is a good prospect, the top priority for Australia was performance under pressure. With the World Cup only about a month away, no game is more important for the final selection.
Josh Inglis (wk) was promoted to open the batting and immediately rewarded everyone for making the move. His rapid acceleration and sensible wrist work frustrated the Windies’ bowlers.
Russell’s farewell ends in defeat
Andre Russell’s profession was a highly emotional farewell; he had announced that this would be his last T20I for the West Indies. The crowd at Sabina Park stood, and a tunnel of respect was made by both teammates and opponents as he walked in.
Russell went about entertaining yet one last time; essentially, his innings was flair and power combined: vintage Dre Russ. His 36-run onslaught was insufficient, though, to take the West Indies beyond 180.
The clinical chase by Australia ensured that the final act for Russell did not have a fairytale ending.
Australia’s spin strategy proved vital
With the pacers Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis in and out of the team, Australia went right into the spinners. Zampa, Maxwell, and Kuhnemann found themselves bowling 11 of the 20 overs between them. Their combined figures were 5/77, perhaps a winning performance.
Such a strategy may well be in line with Australia’s path to the T20 World Cup. They have indeed been preferring spin-heavy combinations in the last few months, particularly under subcontinent conditions.
Mitchell Marsh, the captain, was very much in the forefront of making tactical bowling changes and placing the fields smartly. Those decisions were the turning points.
What lies ahead for both teams?
The third T20I shall be at Warner Park, St Kitts, on 25th July. Australia, however, had already wrapped the five-match series 2–0.
Nevertheless, the West Indies still have pride and combinations to play for. There is positivity in the top order, but death bowling remains an issue.
Australia might experiment by giving game time to Cooper Connolly or rebring Sean Abbott. With the T20 World Cup just a couple of months away, every match counts in finalising the squad.
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Inglis and Green Signal Australia’s Rising Firepower
Josh Inglis said loudly in Kingston, “I have my credentials!” The fearless yet calm batting on his part made the chase look easy.
Cam Green has established himself further as Australia’s most flexible all-rounder. Glen Maxwell justified his selection all over again by making invaluable contributions with both bat and ball.
Matthew Kuhnemann’s debut signified the strength of spin bowling on this side of the Caribbean. Mitchell Marsh grows in stature and presence as captain: calm and clear-headed.
Ben Dwarshuis did not bowl today, but that has nothing to do with his bigger picture for now. Sean Abbott got a bit of a rest, enabling the team to test some more spin options.
Australia stays at the top, yet holding on stronger and stronger. Rapid changes in T20 cricket should be met with a towering win like the one clinched in this series.
