On Friday, the West Indies took advantage of Australia by getting early wickets to defeat the visitors by 18 runs in the first of 5- T20 matches. let’s look at WI Vs AUS First T20I
WI’s team scored 145-6 after being sent in to bat, with Andre Russell at No.6 led for scoring 51 runs off 28 balls and opener Lendl Simmons contributing 27 runs.
At 70-3, Australia was on its way to a comfortable victory until it lost 6 wickets for 19 runs and was dismissed for 127 in just 16 overs.
For the West Indies, Obed McCoy had 4-26, while Hayden Walsh had 3-23. Mitch Marsh led the way with 51 runs and 2 wickets, while Josh Hazlewood finished with 3-12. With 33 runs from 14 balls, Australia got off to a great start, but it was all for nothing following the late downfall.
Both sides kneeled immediately before Mitchell Starc’s opening delivery of the game at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, forcing Cricket Australia to issue a later statement.
“The Australian men’s cricket team stands with the West Indies cricket team in condemning racial injustice and discrimination, both at home in Australia and throughout the world,” the statement said.
“We kneel alongside our West Indian friends to recognize and show our support of all those who have been victims of racial injustice and/or discrimination, past and present.”
Kieron Pollard, the West Indies captain, was forced to withdraw due to injury, passing the leadership to Nicholas Pooran for the first time and the man of the Match was awarded to McCoy.
“I’ve been working really hard . . . it was just all about execution and sticking to the team plan,” McCoy said. “Normally on that surface, the ball has a nice bounce and carry, but I was just trying to mix up my pace as much as I can. We were confident and knew we had the bowling to back it.”
Finch was open and honest about his team’s late surrender
“Anytime you lose six for 19, you’re gonna struggle to win a T20 game, So we just needed somebody to take it upon themselves and get right through to the end”, said Finch.
“After the position that Marsh and Wade got us into, just a bit of game smarts would have got us over the line there but (we) sort of panicked a little bit. There are no excuses for our batting display there. You’ve got to dust yourselves off and come again with the same attitude but just execute a little bit better under pressure.”
The 2nd match will take place at the same venue in Gros Islet on Saturday.
Official Tweets from the West Indies following their victory:
Also read: ‘You’re Discussing An ICC Trophy, But He Hasn’t Even Won An IPL Yet’: Raina On Kohli’s Captaincy
