Former captain Nicholas Pooran and current captain Rovman Powell delivered electrifying half-centuries, propelling West Indies to a commanding 35-run victory over Australia in a warm-up match on Thursday, ahead of the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup.
This victory at Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain serves as a significant confidence booster for the Caribbean side as they head into the tournament.
Pooran dazzled with a whirlwind 75 off just 25 balls, smashing five fours and eight sixes, while Powell, alleviating any concerns about his form, contributed a robust 52 from 25 balls, including four fours and four sixes. Their explosive batting display led West Indies to an imposing total of 257 for four after being put in to bat by Australia.
In response, Australia’s Josh Inglis top-scored with an enterprising 55 off 30 balls, but the visitors could only manage 222 for seven, falling short of the target set by the tournament co-hosts.
West Indies batting masterclass
West Indies started their innings with intent but were 38 for one in the third over when Pooran took the crease. He made an immediate impact, launching his first three legal balls for sixes and continuing to dismantle the Australian bowling attack with a range of aggressive strokes. Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar and leg-spinner Adam Zampa bore the brunt of Pooran’s assault, conceding five sixes in six balls across two overs just outside the Power Play. By the end of the Power Play, West Indies had raced to 78 for one.
Pooran reached his half-century in just 16 balls, and despite being dropped by substitute fielder Andre Borovec, he continued his onslaught until Zampa eventually got him caught in the deep in the 10th over.
Powell then took over, driving the innings forward before falling to part-time off-spinner Tim David in the 16th over with the score at 194 for four. Sherfane Rutherford provided a strong finish with an unbeaten 47 off 18 balls.
Strong bowling performance
West Indies’ bowlers backed up the batting fireworks with a disciplined performance. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and strike bowler Alzarri Joseph each claimed two wickets, restricting Australia despite Inglis’s valiant effort, supported by Nathan Ellis’s 39 and Agar’s 28.
West Indies aim to become the first team to win a third T20 World Cup title and will compete in Group “C” alongside ICC full members Afghanistan and New Zealand, and ICC associate teams Papua New Guinea and Uganda.
Their campaign kicked off with a match at the Guyana National Stadium against Papua New Guinea on Sunday, with the second against Uganda six days later. They will conclude the group stage with games against New Zealand at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Afghanistan at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St. Lucia.
West Indies secured their previous titles under the leadership of Daren Sammy, with coaches Ottis Gibson in 2012 and Phil Simmons in 2016.
