If the West Indies had made wiser decisions and fewer mistakes in the field, they could have won the match, but that’s not the talk of the day. Australia posted a formidable total on a good batting surface, but it wasn’t just the surface that aided them in scoring big runs.
West Indies bowlers, initially uncertain where to bowl, paid the price as David Warner and Josh Inglis capitalized on the powerplay, posting 77 runs without losing a wicket.
It was David Warner’s 100th T20I match for Australia, and he finished it on a high note with 70 off 36 balls, rightfully earning him the player of the game award.
After an initial struggle, West Indies bowlers found their rhythm, but by then, the scoring run-rate had already skyrocketed. A couple of wickets brought them back into the game as Australian batters succumbed to rash shots.
Despite the Windies’ efforts, their bowlers continued to grapple, leaking runs in the last few overs, conceding 45 runs from overs 16 to 19.
The standout performer of the day was Adam Zampa, who conceded only 26 runs in his four overs on a pitch where more than 400 runs were scored. While the Windies openers provided a solid start with an 89-run partnership, no one in the middle order managed to get into rhythm.
Although there were a couple of promising starts, Australia kept chipping away at wickets consistently, preventing any crucial partnerships from forming. West Indies boast a deep batting lineup, but chasing down the target proved to be a daunting task for the lower order.
Jason Holder made a valiant effort to finish the game, but the requirement of 64 runs from the last 4 overs was too tall a order, as Australia successfully defended their total of 213, clinching the match by 11 runs.
With the T20 World Cup 2024 looming, both teams appear to have strong batting lineups. West Indies, in particular, are focused on maximizing their destructive potential, evident as Holder bats at number 10.
It might be prudent to consider bringing back Motie, potentially replacing either Sherfane Rutherford or Romario Shepard.
Next, both teams head to Adelaide for the second T20I scheduled for February 11th.
