West-Indies-vs-Australia
After the match being suspended due to Covid break out, the 2nd ODI was rescheduled to 24t July. Both the teams were tested and after all, members were tested negative, they were allowed to take the field. Australia who won the 1st ODI convincingly had a horrendous start in the 2nd ODI.
After being asked to bat, Australia had the worst possible start as Cotrell who has this knack of picking up wickets upfront, provided Windies the best possible start. He got rid of Ben McDermott in the first over and swung the momentum in their favor. Australia kept losing wickets and was down to 45-6. It looked like they won’t even reach 100 but Australia’s tail gave Windies bowlers a very tough time.
First, it was Wade and Starc who had a nice partnership but it was Zampa and Wes Agar who scored fast and made a 59 runs stand in no time. However, one wicket led to another and both of them got out on the same score of 187. For Australia number 10, Wes Agar was the highest scorer and this was the fist time that a number 10 remained the highest runs scorer for Australia.
The target looked comfortable but Starc who has gained his rhythm in the first ODI tried his best to spoil the party. He got Evin Lewis and Darren Bravo of successive balls and lit up some hopes in the Australian camp. Adam Zampa chipped in with a couple of wickets and the West Indies were reduced to 72-5. It was all down to Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder to do some repair work and bail West Indies out of this situation. Both of them applied themselves and hardly played any rash shots.
Both completed their 50 and Starc in his penultimate over got Holder out. It was too late by then as Pooran was standing tall and one end and made sure his side will surpass the target set by Australia. He gave all that he had and extras from Australia also helped the home side’s cause as Australia bowled as many as 15 wides in the match along with 2 no balls. In the end, West Indies got past the line with 12 overs remaining. Pooran was simply the architect of the chase as he remained not out on 59 of 75.
For Australia, Mitchell Starc was the most impressive bowler with 3 for 26 of his 10. Australia played some really poor cricket and the final match of the series will be the match to watch out for. The match will now be played on Sunday Night as the West Indies and Pakistan series have been rescheduled.
Australia will have to change its openers as McDermott has failed in both the opportunities provided to him. West Indies on the other hand can field the same 11 as it looked more balanced and settled side of the two. From bowling’s perspective, Riley Meredith seems like is still not ready for the 50 over competition and Australia’s think tank will have to address all those issues in a day’s time that they have before the decider.