Thursday, March 28, 2024

Hetmyer helps Windies take 2-0 series lead against Aussies

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Gros-Islet – Their batting, led by Shimron Hetmyer and Dwayne Bravo, set it up and their bowlers, led by leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr, helped West Indies seal a 56-run victory over Australia in the second Twenty20 International on Saturday in St Lucia.

Hetmyer thumped 61 from 36 balls and Bravo was not out on 47 from 34 balls to lead the Windies to 196 for four from their allocation of 20 overs, after they were put into bat at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.

Walsh grabbed 3-29 from his allotted four overs and left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell supported with 2-22 from three overs in his return to the line-up of the Caribbean side, but a batting collapse meant the Australians were bowled out for 140 in 19.2 overs in reply.

“We just said we were going to do the same things we did last night, even a little better,” stand-in West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran said. “It was fantastic to see how Hetmyer responded.”

The result meant the Caribbean side took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, which continues Monday at the same venue.

Cottrell struck with the second ball of the chase, when Matthew Wade was caught at mid-on for a second-ball duck from a miscued a pull, and fast bowler Fidel Edwards bowled Aussie captain Aaron Finch for six in the fourth over before leaving the field later in the match with an injury to his right triceps.

The Windies met resistance, when Josh Philippe came to the crease and put on 39 with Mitchell Marsh, whose 54 off 42 balls was the top score, and his second successive half-century of the series.

But once Walsh bowled Philippe for 13 in the eighth over, no other Australia batsman rose to the occasion and the visitors lost their last eight wickets for 82.

It marked the first time in 11 years that the Australians lost all 10 wickets in consecutive T20Is.

“Chasing 190-odd, you have to get off to a good start,” Finch said. “When both your openers get out cheaply, it puts pressure on a reasonably inexperienced middle order.”

West Indies got off to a solid start with 46 in the Power Play overs, and opener Lendl Simmons blasted three sixes in his knock of 30 before Player-of-the-Match Hetmyer took over.

Hetmyer was the aggressor with two fours and four sixes, and he stitched together a 103-run partnership with Bravo for the third wicket, after the Windies stumbled to 59 for three in the eighth over.

“I think it was one of my best T20 innings,” Hetmyer said. “I think I paced it quite well. It really worked out well for me with the guys backing me to be the guy to just take it as deep as possible.”

Bravo had one four and three sixes in his knock and Andre Russell added 24 off eight balls after Hetmyer was run out.

The hosts added 123 in the last 10 overs with the Australian bowlers struggling to contain the flow of runs.

(Agencies)

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