Hilfenhaus, Ahmed demolish Windies as Australia Champions claim 36-run win
Key Points(5)
- Ben Hilfenhaus and Fawad Ahmed dismantled the West Indies Champions batting lineup to propel Australia Champions to a 36-run victory in Sunday’s World Championship of Legends contest at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
- After Australia had been dismissed for just 119 in 16.2 overs, the West Indies appeared well placed to secure their third victory in four matches.
- However, the modest target proved deceptively difficult as Hilfenhaus and Ahmed claimed three wickets apiece to bowl out the Caribbean side for 83 in 18.1 overs.
- Australia’s batters struggle against Cottrell West Indies’ bowlers had done much of the hard work, with left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell leading the attack in a disciplined display that exposed Australia’s batting frailties.
- Cottrell claimed three wickets for 31 runs, while Fidel Edwards provided valuable support with two for 10 as Australia struggled to establish a substantial total.
Ben Hilfenhaus and Fawad Ahmed dismantled the West Indies Champions batting lineup to propel Australia Champions to a 36-run victory in Sunday’s World Championship of Legends contest at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
After Australia had been dismissed for just 119 in 16.2 overs, the West Indies appeared well placed to secure their third victory in four matches. However, the modest target proved deceptively difficult as Hilfenhaus and Ahmed claimed three wickets apiece to bowl out the Caribbean side for 83 in 18.1 overs.
Australia’s batters struggle against Cottrell
West Indies’ bowlers had done much of the hard work, with left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell leading the attack in a disciplined display that exposed Australia’s batting frailties.
Cottrell claimed three wickets for 31 runs, while Fidel Edwards provided valuable support with two for 10 as Australia struggled to establish a substantial total.
Opener D’Arcy Short supplied the innings’ most explosive contribution, striking 34 from just 16 deliveries to give Australia some early momentum.
Jonathan Wells added 26 from 26 balls, but the remaining batters failed to build on those contributions, leaving Australia all out for 119 in 16.2 overs.
The West Indies had every reason to believe they could complete the chase and strengthen their position in the competition.
Hilfenhaus delivers early double blow
Instead, the Australian bowling attack immediately turned the match on its head.
Hilfenhaus struck in the third over, dismissing Chris Gayle and Chadwick Walton for ducks to reduce West Indies to seven for two.
The early double strike placed the visitors under immediate pressure, and they never managed to recover as Hilfenhaus and Ahmed continued to prise open the batting lineup.
With the required target appearing manageable, West Indies needed a partnership to steady the innings. Instead, wickets fell regularly, leaving the chase in disarray.
Brathwaite’s blitz fails to inspire recovery
Carlos Brathwaite offered the only meaningful resistance, launching an aggressive counterattack that produced 25 runs from just nine deliveries.
His brief assault provided a flicker of hope, but the damage inflicted by the Australian bowlers proved too extensive to overcome.
Hilfenhaus completed an outstanding spell with three wickets for 13 runs, while Ahmed matched him with three for 21 as Australia dismissed West Indies for 83 in 18.1 overs.
The result represented a dramatic reversal of expectations after Australia’s modest first-innings total. West Indies had restricted their opponents to 119 but were unable to capitalize, as Hilfenhaus and Ahmed transformed a seemingly straightforward chase into a comprehensive Australian victory.
