What would have been had the substitute fielder Andrew caught Abbott? Australia were 183 for 7 at that stage, and two overs remained. But much before that miss, West Indies lost 6 for 37 with the bat to limit themselves to 189. Then they had Australia at 78 for 4 with the ball. But the failure to put the opposition under the pump means West Indies fall behind early in the series. Join us for the second T20I in two days' time, though, in what will be Andre Russell's farewell game in international cricket. Until then, see you!
Mitchell Marsh: "Really good performance. From the way West Indies started, they put us under pressure. To pull the West Indies back, it was fantastic. All the boys put on the pressure. They've played a lot of cricket. Anytime you get a young player performs like that for Australia... The bowling performance in the back end, and just the way we kept going with the bat... nice to win."
Shai Hope: "We left ourselves 20 or 30 runs short in the back end. With the ball, we didn't take as many wickets as we wanted to. We've got some very good batting in the lower order. Some missed execution [from our bowlers]."
Mitchell Owen is the Player of the Match: "I'm firstly happy to get a win. For me, I've been trying to play positive for the last six to eight months. Today was no different. Honestly, not too much changed. The only difference is five fielders out [while batting in the middle order]."
Time for the presentations
Rio: "Ben Dwarshuis is my MOM. His 3-wicket over started a collapse." --- I suppose it will be Owen for his counterattacking fifty, and a wicket
10.31pm Nine sixes vs 17: that's where the game was won and lost. There was a time when West Indies out-sixed oppositions in T20s - that has been their style for years, you'd think - but tonight, Australia hit nearly double the number of sixes West Indies managed, and that made all the difference. Typical T20 batting from a newish line-up even as the dimensions at the ground helped. The stars of the chase were half-centurions Green and Owen, who, on debut, confirms his potential although he batted at No. 6 instead of his usual position as opener. Hang around for the presentations.
Fine leg in, mid-on out.
END OF OVER:18 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 185/7 (5 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 10.27, RRR: 2.50)
- Sean Abbott3 (2b)
- Ben Dwarshuis3 (3b)
- Jason Holder4-0-32-2
- Alzarri Joseph3-0-35-2
Duke: "West Indies can't let Dwarshuis get an easy single"
Abbott in
C Connolly c †Hope b Holder 13 (12m 8b 1x4 1x6) SR: 162.5
Hayes: "Owen robbed of a century by batting at 6."
From around to Connolly
Holder back.
END OF OVER:17 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 180/6 (10 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 10.58, RRR: 3.33)
- Cooper Connolly13 (6b)
- Ben Dwarshuis1 (1b)
- Alzarri Joseph3-0-35-2
- Roston Chase1-0-11-0
G-Rant: "Australia have to be sensible here. This isn't over."
From around.
Dwarshuis
MJ Owen c Holder b Joseph 50 (44m 27b 0x4 6x6) SR: 185.18
