Australia was as clinical as anything to win the ODI series. West Indies won the toss and decided to bat. The wicket was sluggish and Kieron Pollard even complaining about the wicket after the match but it was Australia who exploited the conditions well and in the end won the series with ease. West Indies didn’t have a good start as Evin Lewis was retired hurt and West Indies downfall started from there.
First, it was Hetmeyer who got out cheaply and then Shai Hope a while after that. West Indies could never recover from early blows as Australia choked runs and that forced error from the West Indies batsmen. Pooran missed a delivery that was coming in and he shouldered and got bowled. After West Indies lost Pollard, Evin Lewis came back again and started dominating.
He, though kept losing partners from the other end as Jason Holder couldn’t last long and then West Indies had a bit of a partnership with Evin Lewis and Alzzari Joseph 48 for the 7th wicket. The tai elders of the West Indies, Hayden Walsh Jr, Akeal Hosien, and Cotrell couldn’t hang around and West Indies were bowled out for 152 in 45.1 overs. Starc was the highest wicket-taker in the match and all three spinners for Australia were among the wickets.
Australia came to bat with not much on board. They though started poorly as Moises Henriques who opened for the first time in his life, got out on 1. Joshua Philippe also lost the chances that he was given. It was Australia’s stand-in captain Alex Carey and the main in form for Australia, Mitchell Marsh made a quick 29. Australia was in a commanding position by the time, Marsh got out and Matthew made sure that Australia doesn’t falter again and he, therefore, started taking singles and hitting occasional boundaries to make sure that the scoreboard is ticking.
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After Carey got out, Agar took the mantle on his hands and played second fiddle to Wade and make sure Australia doesn’t lose any further wickets and chase the target down with nearly 20 overs to go. Ashton Agar for his all-around performance was awarded the Man of the Match while Mitchell Starc who took 11 wickets in 3 matches was rightly adjourned the Man of the Series Award.
West Indies dominated the T20I series but Australia fought hard in the ODI series and won the competition. Australia was without their regular skipper and many first-choice players but Starc, Hazlewood, and Zampa took the onus of bowling on their shoulders and Alex Carey and Matthew Wade being the senior members took care of the batting department.
Australia couldn’t produce any backup player from this series as most of the players who were handed opportunities failed to make it count. Joshua Philippe who played all the matches was among the biggest dud. They may have found a second spinner in Agar as Australia will be fielding as many as 3 spinners in the upcoming T20I world cup.
