The West Indies warmed up for the T20 World Cup in style, crushing a slightly weakened Australian team in a practice match. Nicholas Pooran was the star of the show, unleashing a six-hitting frenzy at the Queen’s Park Oval in front of his home fans. Australia, without their bowling aces Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, decided to field first. West Indies opener Shai Hope started well but was dismissed early.
Enter Pooran, who exploded from the get-go. The first three balls he saw sailed over the boundary for sixes! He continued his power-hitting, racking up a stunning 75 runs in just 25 balls. His innings boasted five boundaries alongside his eight towering sixes, but it was cut short in the 10th over. The West Indies batting continued to sizzle.
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Australia Falter Chasing Mammoth Total, West Indies Secure Confidence Boosting Victory
Captain Rovman Powell and the big-hitting Sherfane Rutherford kept the pressure on, each scoring quick half-centuries (50+ runs). This onslaught propelled the West Indies to a massive total of 257 runs for just 4 wickets in their 20 overs. Chasing such a daunting target, Australia faced a huge challenge. Openers David Warner and Ashton Agar started well, but the wickets kept tumbling after that.
While wicket-keeper Josh Inglis provided a flicker of hope with a quickfire 55, it wasn’t enough. Australia ultimately fell short by 35 runs, managing only 222 runs for 7 wickets. West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie emerged as the leading bowler for the home team, claiming 2 wickets for a mere 31 runs.
Despite a pitch not favouring spin bowlers, Motie used his skills cleverly to keep the Australian batsmen in check. This win, even against a less experienced Australian team, is a significant confidence booster for the West Indies. They’ll be brimming with belief as they enter the T20 World Cup on home soil, aiming to defend their championship title.
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