The Caribbean team won the fifth and final game by 16 runs to win the series by a margin of 4-1. The visiting team, on the other hand, lacked a number of their key players and the inexperience showed in all the five matches.
West Indies’ innings mostly revolved around Evin Lewis, who bagged the Player of the Match award. Andre Fletcher strained, but Chris Gayle’s seven-ball 21 set the tone for the home team. Lewis, meanwhile, played his shots and notched a half-century off 23 balls to keep his team ahead in the game.
He went on to score 79 runs off 34 balls with four fours and nine sixes, taking his team to 199 for eight. Lendl Simmons struggled a bit as his 21 came at under a run-a-ball. Nicholas Pooran also chipped in with an 18-ball 31. For the Aussies, Andrew Tye was the most successful with three wickets.
Dre Russ showed up with the ball tonight! ? Some big wickets at crucial times from the all-rounder!??#WIvAUS #MissionMaroon pic.twitter.com/3hlLtGdllQ
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 17, 2021
In the run-chase, Australia lost Josh Philippe for a duck, but Aaron Finch and Mitchell Marsh steadied the ship. However, both perished after scoring in their 30s. Moises Henriques threatened for a wee bit, scoring 21 before he was run out.
Matthew Wade, batting in the middle-order, scored an 18-ball 26 after which Andre Russell castled him. Russell also picked up his career-best figures as he picked three wickets. Sheldon Cottrell also accounted for three scalps.
Finch, the Aussie skipper, praised Marsh for scoring three half-centuries and also picking up wickets at crucial junctures of games. Pooran, the Caribbean skipper, lauded Walsh Jr, who was the leading wicket-taker of the series.
On yas! Too good. #WIvAUS https://t.co/16Y33VR4hC
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) July 17, 2021
“Mitch Marsh stood out at his first opportunity at No. 3 and the way he bowled as well. Our bowling has been pretty decent too; we haven’t backed it up with the bat. There are some guys in there with not much international experience and it’s not easy. I am not critical of them,” Finch said.
Also Read:Mitchell Marsh sizzles as Caribbeans gasp for breath in a high-scoring encounter
“Wonderful achievement. Especially after the last series, we played proper cricket. Leg spinners are champs in T20 cricket. We are very happy for Hayden. He has been working so hard on his bowling and I am very happy for him,” Pooran mentioned.
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