Mitchell Marsh’s incredible all round performance with 75 and 24/3 and Mitchell Starc’s unbelievable last over helped Australia finally register a win against West Indies at St Lucia in the fourth T20I.
Having already lost the series, Australia needed something special to stop the rampant West Indies side. In a high scoring encounter, Australia held their nerves better to clinch a 4-run victory. The series scoreline now reads 3-1 in favour of the hosts, West Indies.
Mitchell Marsh was the star of the match with his blistering knock of 75 off 44 and an outstanding bowling spell with the returns of 3 for 24 in his four overs.
As it happened, Australia won the toss and decided to bat first but they didn’t get off to a great start, losing Matthew Wade (5) in the second over. Along with captain Aaron Finch, Marsh joined hands and put on a spectacular display of striking in their partnership of 114 in just 9.4 overs for the second wicket.
After Finch’s knock ended on 53 off 37, Australia’s middle order failed yet again. Marsh kept going at the other end, bringing up his third fifty of the series. With some late hitting from Dan Christian (22) at the back end, the visitors reached 189/6 in 20 overs.
In return, West Indies got off to a flyer with 60 runs inside five overs. Evin Lewis looked in glorious touch, hammering 31 off 14 before he was clean bowled by Adam Zampa. The hero of the previous game, Chris Gayle, could repeat his performance as Marsh dismissed him on 1. Andre Fletcher, batting at no. 4, could not get going at all. His 6 off 14 balls, eventually turned out to match defining.
Stand-in skipper Nicholas Pooran’s rough patch continued as he got out after 16 off 15. Lendl Simmons, who played an outstanding knock of 72 off 48, followed the skipper to the dugout on the very next ball. The team still required 58 off 27 deliveries.
The hosts needed 36 off the last 12 balls with two of the best power-hitters, Andre Russell and Fabian Allen, in the middle. The duo took 25 runs off the penultimate over, including four sixes. Allen (29 off 14) was dismissed on the last ball of the over after smashing three consecutive sixes.
11 needed off 6 with Russell on strike. You’d think it’s a done deal. Wasn’t to be! Starc, who rediscovered his white-ball rhythm in the last match, bowled a superb final over. He bowled at pace and full. Russell backed himself and refused to take singles. An understandable move, but it didn’t come off. With four consecutive dots to Dre Russ in the final over, Starc showed why he’s a highly rated bowler.
Mitchell Marsh was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for his terrific all-round performance. The fifth and final match of the series will take place on July 16th.
Brief Scores
Australia 189/6 in 20 overs (Mitchell Marsh 75, Aaron Finch 53; Hayden Walsh Jr 27/3, Andre Russell 25/1)
West Indies 185/6 in 20 overs (Lendl Simmons 72, Evin Lewis 31; Mitchell Marsh 24/3, Adam Zampa 20/2)
Australia won by 4 runs.
