AUSTRALIA GETS OFF TO A FLIER BY CRUSHING WEST INDIES
In the 2nd match of Ballr Cup 2016 triangular series, 50 overs World Cup Champions Australia probed to be too good against the 20 overs World Champions West Indies and open their account in the Tri-Series with a bonus point victory. Australia outplayed West Indies in every department of the game. Due to Wet outfield, Match delayed by some time as constant shower throughout the day led to the outfield remaining wet. But once the match started, there were no interruption from rain.
Australian skipper Steve Smith won the toss and invited the hosts to bat first. West Indies were playing with the same side which defeated the Proteas two days back, on the other side Australian pacer Mitchell Starc was making his comeback for Australia in colour clothing after a gap of almost an year due to series of foot injuries. From the very first over , Starc was on the money as he troubled both the West Indian openers especially Andre Fletcher. Andre Fletcher was trapped in front by Starc, Umpire declined the appeal and Smith went upstairs straightaway for the review but the decision didn’t come in Australia’s favour and in the very next ball because of the pressure created by the previous deliveries, Fletcher hit the ball straight to Maxwell’s hand at point. After the early loss, Johnson Charles with Darren Bravo put on a fluent looking 44 runs stand for the second wicket, Darren Bravo was the aggressor who played a few gorgeous looking strokes on both sides of the wicket in his little inning of 19. Once Darren Bravo got out, it triggered for steep slide of West Indian innings as wickets started tumbling after off spinner Lyon was brought into the attack by Smith. Nathan Lyon struck twice in the same over to send Marlon Samuels and Kieron Pollard back to the pavilion. After that Australian spin trio Lyon, Zampa and Maxwell took over the West Indian innings and West Indies got bowled out on 116 runs only.
Australia started their chase in an aggressive mode as Warner and Finch were looking in hurry, they were playing their shots all around the wicket as if the wicket suddenly became an easy one to bat. Warner carried his IPL form in the Tri-Series too and scored an unbeaten half century. He was well supported by Finch which helped Australia to reach 53/1 at Dinner Break. West Indies took some quick wickets to pull things back as Australia slid from 85/1 to 92/4 but it was too little too late for the West Indies as Australia was always in control of the required run-rate. Eventually Australia registered a comfortable win by 6 wickets and again proved to the world that why they are the World Cup champions. Nathan Lyon was adjudged Man Of The Match for his outstanding spell of 10-2-39-3.
Match Summary :-
West Indies 116 (all-out) in 32.3 Overs (Johoson Charles 22 off 40 balls, Carlos Brathwaite 21 off 48 balls; Adam Zampa 3/16, Nathan Lyon 3/39)
Australia 117/4 in 25.4 Overs (David Warner 55 off 55 balls, Usman Khawaja 27 off 38 balls; Sunil Narine 2/36; Benn 1/21) beat West Indies by 6 wickets