World Cup 2019: Australia clinch a thriller against West Indies
Nathan Coulter-Nile, Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc help Australia with an unbelievable win against the West Indies at World Cup 2019.
AUSTRALIA VS WEST INDIES SCORECARD:
Australia: 288-10 in 49 overs | Winner
Nathan Coulter-Nile: 92(60) | Steve Smith: 73(103) | Carlos Brathwaite: 3-67
West Indies: 273-9 in 50 overs
Shai Hope: 68(105) | Mitchell Starc: 5-46 | Pat Cummins: 2-41
Player of the Match: Nathan Coulter-Nile
MATCH SUMMARY
A determined Steve Smith anchoring the innings, an outstanding knock from Nathan Coulter-Nile and a lethal spell by Mitchell Starc were the key highlights as Australia clinch a thrilling win against the West Indies at World Cup 2019.
Having won the toss, West Indies asked Australia to bat first. Their decision proved fruitful as their pace bowlers were all over the Australian batsmen at the start.
The pace of Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas, and Sheldon Cotrell was too hot to handle as Australia were left reeling at 79-5 after 16 overs.
Australia needed the class and temperament of Steve Smith to help Australia recover from this. He did exactly that as he first had a 68 runs partnership along with Alex Carey for the sixth wicket, and then a 102 runs partnership with Nathan Coulter Nile for the seventh wicket.
Steve Smith played an anchor role in his 72(103), while Nathan Coulter Nile played one of the best innings by a number 8 batsmen in ODIs with his aggressive 92(60).
A sensational comeback by Australia as after being 79-5, they were able to post a competitive target of 288-10. Carlos Brathwaite took 3 wickets for West Indies, while Russell, Cotrell, and Thomas took 2 wickets each.
THE CHASE:
Chasing 289, West Indies needed a big partnership to give themselves a chance.
Evin Lewis didn’t trouble the scorers as Pat Cummins dismissed him in the second over. Chris Gayle scored some quick runs, but was eventually dismissed by Mitchell Starc in the fifth over.
Shai Hope played the anchor innings as he first had a 68 runs partnership with Nicholas Pooran, another 50 runs partnership with Shemron Hetmyer, and another 41 runs partnership with Jason Holder.
Andre Russell, who joined Jason Holder after the dismissal of Hope, attacked straight away, but played a brainless shot off Mitchell Starc, which got Australia back into the game.
Jason Holder did try his best to win it for Australia, but Mitchell Starc’s lethal deliveries were too much for him and the Windies batsmen.
So, Steve Smith’s determined 73(103), Nathan Coulter-Nile’s outstanding 92(60) and Mitchell Starc’s 5-46 helped Australia with a clinical win against the West Indies at World Cup 2019.
WHAT WENT WRONG FOR WI?
- Lack of big partnerships. They had partnerships in patches, but not a big one.
- Almost everyone followed the ‘see the ball, hit the ball’ method.
- Shai Hope played a sensible knock, but should have carried on till the end.
KEY MOMENTS:
- Sheldon Cotrell’s outstanding catch at the boundary to dismiss Steve Smith.
- Mitchell Starc’s big no-ball, a ball before Gayle’s dismissal. Had that been given a no-ball, Chris Gayle would have survived.
- An unnecessary poor shot from Andre Russell when it was really not needed.
- Mitchell Starc’s fabulous 46th over to dismiss Carlos Brathwaite and Jason Holder.
NEXT MATCH:
Match 11: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
Date: June 7, 2019
Time: 3 pm IST
Both the teams had a horror start to the tournament, but won the next match with fashion. So, who would be victorious tomorrow?.
ALSO READ: World Cup 2019: Pacers help Sri Lanka win a low scoring thriller against Afghanistan
Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics.
Cricket to him is like what ‘Football is to Lionel Messi’, ‘Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar’, ‘Dancing is to Michael Jackson’, and what ‘Acting is to Clint Eastwood’.
Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.
