Mitchell Marsh blasted 75 and took three wickets as Australia secured a tense four-run win against West Indies in the fourth Twenty20 International as West Indies lead the series 3-1.
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Mitchell Marsh and Aaron Finch hit brilliant fifties. Hayden Walsh pegged Australia back yet again with three wickets. Lendl Simmons kept West Indies in the hunt with a brilliant 72. West Indies needed 36 off 12 balls but Fabian Allen hit four sixes in one over of Riley Meredith as West Indies got the equation down to 11 off six balls. Mitchell Starc, who had struggled in the previous three matches, was tasked with the job of defending the total against Andre Russell. Starc delivered four dot balls and when the fifth ball was just two runs, Australia sealed their first win on the tour. Mitchell Marsh, in addition to his 75, had taken three crucial wickets as Australia won by four runs in the fourth T20I in St Lucia.
Australia chose to bat and they included Jason Behrendorff in place of Josh Hazlewood. Shimron Hetmyer and Dwayne Bravo were replaced by Oshane Thomas and Akeal Hossain. Obed McCoy was also replaced as West Indies looked to test their depth. Australia was jolted immediately with Thomas dismissing Matthew Wade for 5. That set the stage for Aaron Finch and Mitchell Marsh to unleash their fireworks.
Marsh capitalized on horror over from Thomas as he hit two fours and two sixes. The bowler did not help his cause by bowling two no-balls as the fourth over yielded 25 runs. Mitchell Marsh hit another six off Russell and continued the carnage with a four and six off Akeal Hossain.
Finch got into the action with a six off Hayden Walsh but Marsh notched up his third fifty in four games with a huge six off Fabian Allen. There was a short rain delay but Australia did not lose momentum. Finch thumped two fours and one six off Lendl Simmons. The Australia skipper notched up his fifty with a four and six off Hossain. But, West Indies fought back with Walsh taking Finch and Alex Carey being sent back in consecutive deliveries.
When Russell sent back Moises Henriques, West Indies had fought back. Walsh took his third wicket by sending back Ashton Turner. Marsh kept Australia in pursuit of 200 with a big six off Sheldon Cottrell. However, Australia’s chances of 200 took a big hit as Marsh fell for 75. Dan Christian hit a four and a six off Allen in the final over as Australia ended on 189/6.
Australia had managed only 77/5 in the final 10 overs after they had smashed 112 in the first 10. Simmons got going with a four off Starc but he took full toll on Riley Meredith as he blasted two fours and a six. Simmons was given great support by Evin Lewis, with the left-hander blasting two fours and two sixes off Dan Christian in one over that yielded 23 runs.
Adam Zampa sent back Lewis for a whirlwind 31 but Simmons hammered three fours in the sixth over as West Indies ended the powerplay on 75/1. Simmons reached his fifty off 28 balls but Australia got a massive boost as Marsh sent back Chris Gayle for 1. Marsh and Zampa tightened the screws with Andre Fletcher struggled. The pressure got to him and he was stumped for six off 14 balls by Zampa.
Nicholas Pooran and Simmons continued to keep Windies in the hunt with two sixes in consecutive overs. But, the game turned in the 16th over as Marsh sent back Pooran and Simmons in consecutive deliveries. Andre Russell hit a six and Fabian Allen hit two fours but West Indies needed 36 off 12 balls.
But, Allen hit four sixes off Meredith but the bowler dismissed him as Australia needed to defend 11 runs. Starc stepped up and kept Andre Russell quiet as Australia secured a consolation win.
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