A partnership between Josh Inglis and Cam Green guided Australia to an eight-wicket victory over West Indies in Kingston on Tuesday.
Inglis and Green’s 131-run partnership was Australia’s highest for the 3rd wicket in T20Is, breaking the record of 118 between Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell. This was aided by the hosts dropping no fewer than six catches.
The visitors won the toss and put the West Indies into bat at Sabina Park, where they enjoyed a bright start thanks to Brandon King. The opener fell to Australian tweaker Adam Zampa for 51 (36) and struggling partner Shai Hope holed out the following over, leaving them 63/2.
Zampa continued his good work in the middle overs, getting a bottom edge onto the stumps to dismiss Roston Chase and then Sherfane Rutherford to finish with neat figures of 3/29.
Then in came the retiring Andre Russell. Playing for the final time in West Indies colours, the stalwart received a guard of honour at the pre-match presentation and did not disappoint when on stage. He crushed three sixes in his first five balls and on 36 off 15, Russell was threatening to derail Australia’s good work with the ball. But Russell lives and dies by the sword, and he earned a standing ovation despite skying one to Inglis off Nathan Ellis’ bowling.
Gudakesh Motie collected 18 off nine balls to add valuable extras at the back end to propel the hosts to 172/8.
In the chase, the West Indies had their tails up when Jason Holder nicked off Maxwell in the second over. But then things fell apart. Captain Mitchell Marsh was dropped twice in the fifth over off Akeal Hosein. Shamar Joseph rushed Marsh the following over, who skied one straight up for Hope to collect. But the yips had started.
The West Indies dropped three more in the seventh over. In total, Inglis and Green were dropped twice each.
The pair made the hosts pay. Inglis blasted 78 not out off just 33 and was supported aptly by Green at the other end, who finished unbeaten on 56 (32) to secure a comfortable victory with 28 balls to spare.
The third T20I takes place on 26 July in Basseterre.
