Dwarshuis and middle-order batsmen could lead Australia to a 5-0 victory
Dwarshuis and middle-order batsmen could lead Australia to a 5-0 victory
Australia completed a dominant tour of the West Indies, securing a 5-0 series sweep in the T20s after winning the preceding Test series. Australia registered a win by three wickets in the fifth and final T20I match against the West Indies.
Australia wrapped up a dominant 5-0 win over West Indies in the T20I series, showing off their batting muscle one last time. Big hitters Tim David and Mitchell Owen smashed seven sixes between them, helping Australia chase down the target, while Aaron Hardie calmly sealed the victory. Despite a strong effort from West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein, it wasn’t enough to stop Australia’s clean sweep.
The win was built on a solid bowling performance after captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss his fifth in the series and chose to chase once again. Australia took three early wickets in the powerplay, putting West Indies under pressure. Shimron Hetmyer and Jason Holder added a useful 47-run stand, and Hetmyer even reached his first T20I fifty in nearly a year, but was out on the next ball.
Nathan Ellis finished the innings strongly with smart bowling and sharp fielding, while Adam Zampa grabbed a wicket in his 100th T20I, becoming just the fourth Australian men's player to hit that milestone.
Australia’s batting innings started with chaos: Holder got two wickets in one over, and Alzarri Joseph bowled a beauty to dismiss Marsh. But Tim David went on a rampage, smashing four sixes in his quickfire 30 off just 12 balls. Australia’s run rate stayed on track, and West Indies’ chances faded when Joseph had to leave the field injured. Hosein bowled well, but didn’t have enough runs to defend.
Ben Dwarshuis impressed with the new ball, taking early wickets and continuing to grow as Australia’s top left-arm pace option, possibly jumping ahead of Spencer Johnson. He dismissed dangerous batters Shai Hope and Brandon King, though Hetmyer’s late hitting hurt his final stats. Still, Dwarshuis ended with three wickets.
Glenn Maxwell didn’t have a great night. He dropped an easy catch and was out for zero, but he managed to take a crucial wicket of Sherfane Rutherford, who was looking dangerous.
Australia’s approach with the bat was pure aggression. After early wickets fell, including Maxwell and Josh Inglis, David stepped up again with explosive hitting. Mitchell Owen kept the momentum going with some massive sixes, even one that landed on the roof.
Hosein, held back until the 10th over, came in and got Owen out quickly, giving West Indies hope. Cameron Green, who was later named Player of the Series, looked ready to finish the chase but got out with 30 runs still needed. Hardie stayed calm and saw it through, and even though Hosein got another wicket, Australia crossed the finish line without much trouble.