Evin Lewis blasted a magnificent 79 which included nine sixes and despite the efforts of the Australia batsmen, West Indies won by 16 runs and secured the Twenty20 International series 4-1.
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Evin Lewis’ ultra-aggressive 79, combined with three wickets from Sheldon Cottrell and Andre Russell gave West Indies a 16-run win in the fifth T20I in St Lucia against Australia. With this win, the West Indies managed to secure the five-match series 4-1. With both West Indies and Australia in the same group in the ICC World T20 2021, this series is a curtain-raiser on which team holds the advantage heading into the marquee tournament. West Indies chose to bat and immediately, Lewis was in the mood.
The left-hander got going with a big six off Jason Behrendorff in the first over. Lewis continued to go after Behrendorff as he hammered him for two big sixes in the third over. Adam Zampa struck in his first over when he removed Andre Fletcher but immediately, Chris Gayle showed his class. He blasted two fours and two sixes off Zampa as West Indies motored on. Lewis added to Australia’s agony as he hit two sixes and two fours in the final over of the powerplay. West Indies ended on 81/1.
Gayle was dismissed by Mitchell Swepson in his first over as Australia looked to fight back. Lewis notched up his fifty off 22 balls with a boundary off Andrew Tye. But, the left-hander dealt primarily in sixes. He hit two sixes each off Tye and Swepson as he neared a century. But Mitchell Marsh got the major breakthrough as Lewis mistimed the drive to extra cover and he fell for79. That gave Australia major relief as West Indies had reached 124/3 in 11 overs. Had Lewis continued, West Indies would have crossed 250.
Nicholas Pooran, the skipper, looked to continue the onslaught by hammering three sixes and a four in one over bowled by Swepson. West Indies crossed 150 in the 14th over and West Indies were closing in on 200. But, Andrew Tye got Andre Russell cheaply and got the big wicket of Pooran in the 19th over. Australia did not concede a single boundary from overs 16 to 19. In the final over, Hayden Walsh hit a six as West Indies ended on 199/8, with the last six overs yielding 37 runs and Australia taking five wickets.
West Indies had a wild start as Sheldon Cottrell bowled nine-ball first over which included five wides. But, he dismissed Josh Phillippe for 0 in the first over to set the stage. Mitchell Marsh, who was in fine form in the entire series, showed his intent with a six and two fours in Oshane Thomas’ first over. Mitchell Marsh looked to repeat the antics of the West Indies batsmen as he raced to 30 off 14 balls. But, Russell dealt a body blow to Australia’s hopes as he caught and bowled Marsh. Aaron Finch and Moises Henriques struck some fours to keep the momentum going as Australia reached 66/2 after the end of the powerplay.
Finch continued the onslaught with three fours off Thomas. But, in the 10th over, Finch was sent back by a fantastic one-handed diving catch by Fabian Allen as Hayden Walsh struck. When Henriques was run-out, Australia were in collapse mode again. Matthew Wade struck three fours to try and keep the momentum but Russell came back and dismissed Alex Carey.
Australia were behind the run-rate now and the game was all but sealed when Russell got his third wicket by sending back Wade. Andrew Tye hit a four and a six to make matters interesting. But, Sheldon Cottrell struck in two overs as West Indies sealed a comfortable win.
West Indies will now play three ODIs against Australia before taking on Pakistan in their last five-match Twenty20 International series in their home summer.
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