Obed McCoy (4-26) and Hayden Walsh Jr (3-23) helped West Indies beat Australia by 18 runs in the first T20I in St Lucia. West Indies, despite the absence of Kieron Pollard, have taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series with the win.
Chasing 146, Australia were cruising at 108/4 after the midway mark in the innings. Then they lost their last six wickets for 19 runs to complete their collapse for 127 in just 16 overs.
Earlier, West Indies had lost the in-form Evin Lewis for a two-ball duck after being asked to bat. Chris Gayle (4) did not last either, thanks to Josh Hazlewood’s excellent figures of 3-1-3-2 in the Powerplay. West Indies were 24/2 at this point.
Lendl Simmons (27 runs in 28 balls) and Shimron Hetmyer (20 in 25) tried to rebuild the innings, but neither of them batted aggressively before falling to Mitchell Marsh (2-26). Stand-in skipper Nicholas Pooran made 17 before being run out by Josh Philippe.
In the end, Andre Russell took West Indies to a respective 145/6. Russell (51 in 28), was dropped by Moises Henriques on five at mid wicket, smashed three fours and five sixes in his maiden T20I fifty before Hazlewood (3-12) bowled him.
Australia spinners Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa remained wicketless in the six overs they shared. Mitchell Starc, on his ODI return, conceded 40 from four overs without success.
Despite losing Aaron Finch (4) early, Matthew Wade (33 in 14) and Marsh (51 in 31) got Australia off to a blazing start. Moises Henriques slammed two sixes in his 8-ball 16 before Fabian Allen (2-24) got him. But the drama began when Walsh bowled Ben McDermott (4) in the 11th over.
Following McDermott’s departure, Australia required 38 in 55 balls, with five wickets in hand. Marsh was still in the middle. Dan Christian, Agar and even Starc can be handy with the bat on their day.
However, none of them anchored the innings from there to guide the chase home. With four overs still remaining, Australia were all out for 127, falling 18 runs short of their target.
Brief Scores
West Indies 145/6 in 20 overs (Andre Russell 51; Josh Hazlewood 3-12) beat Australia 127 in 16 overs (Mitchell Marsh 51; Obed McCoy 4-26) by 18 runs. Player of the Match: Obed McCoy.