West Indies level ODI series against Australia after Nicholas Pooran, Jason Holder 50s

The second ODI between West Indies and Australia was a match that saw lower-order resistance and heroics. Australia was in trouble at 45/6, only for Matthew Wade to share a partnership of 51 with Mitchell Starc. At 128/8, Australia was still not out of the woods. But, a 59-run stand for the ninth wicket between Wes Agar and Adam Zampa helped Australia finish on 187. West Indies also faced the same situation in the chase when they were reduced to 72/5. But, Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder hit the fifties and shared a partnership of 93 as West Indies got over the line by four wickets to level the series 1-1.

The match was rescheduled after a case of coronavirus was detected in the Windies camp. However, the RT-PCR test confirmed that there was no coronavirus and the match was rescheduled to Sunday. It was a thrilling match but Australia would once again be ruing some missed chances.

West Indies decimate Australia top order

Australia chose to bat but they had a bad start from the beginning. Sheldon Cottrell dismissed Ben McDermott for 0 in the first over. Josh Phillippe looked to break the shackles with two boundaries off Holder. He looked in great touch and Mitchell Marsh gave him company with some crisp strokes. But, the Windies fought back. Alzarri Joseph sent back Phillippe for 16 while Holder got rid of Marsh for 8. The wickets continued to tumble. Akeal Hosein dismissed skipper Alex Carey. Hosein was on fire in the 13^th over as he sent back Moises Henriques and Ashton Turner in quick succession.

Wade tackled the spinners well, using the reverse paddle off Hosein to break the shackles. Mitchell Starc survived a couple of close calls as he hung in with Wade. Starc opened up with two boundaries off Joseph. Just when a partnership was building, Hayden Walsh sent back Starc for 19. Adam Zampa gave Wade company as Australia made slow progress.

Wade looked good for his fifty but after doing all the hard work, he ended up spooning a catch to extra cover for 36. Wes Agar came on and took the attack to the Windies bowlers. Agar hit a six and four off Holder and followed it up with another six off Cottrell. The partnership went past 50 and Agar had raced along to 41. But, Cottrell and Joseph ensured there would be no more damage as Australia were bowled out for 187 in the 48^th over

West Indies stutter but recover

West Indies’ batting followed the same blueprint as Australia. Starc, who had taken a five-wicket haul in the previous match, was once again in superb form. In the third over, he sent back Evin Lewis and Darren Bravo with pacy deliveries to send the message. Shai Hope looked in good touch with a couple of boundaries. Jason Mohammed also got going with two boundaries off Agar. Hope upped the ante with three consecutive fours off Riley Meredith as West Indies scored at six runs per over.

But, Zampa struck in his first over as Mohammed was undone by the googly. Australia had found the opening as Ashton Turner sent back Hope for 38. The game was well and truly on when Zampa sent back Kieron Pollard with another googly to reduce the West Indies to 72/5. Pooran and Holder then settled down and rebuilt the innings. When both batsmen had gotten their eye in, they opened up.

Holder hit two fours off Mitchell Marsh. Pooran was playing the anchor role. Australia lost the chance to seal the match when Henriques dropped Pooran on 26 off Zampa. Holder neared his fifty with a six off Meredith and two fours off Zampa. Holder notched up his 10^th fifty but he was undone by Mitchell Starc for 52 as the game blew wide open again.

Pooran notched up his fifty with a big six off Turner as West Indies closed in. Starc ended his spell with 3/26 and that was a big relief for West Indies. Pooran hit another six and when the bowler conceded five wides, the game was over. Joseph sealed the game with a slog as West Indies leveled the series 1-1. The final match will be played on Monday at the same venue.