A brilliant display of fast bowling from Darcie Brown helped Australia close out the T20I series against the West Indies at Allan Border Field on Thursday.
Despite a remarkable solo performance by West Indies team captain, Hayley Matthews, who battled through a leg injury, Australia defended their total of 190 for 9, largely built on a stunning 65 off 34 balls by Tahlia McGrath and an extraordinary display of reverse-sweeps and switch-hits by Phoebe Litchfield.
Brown’s match-winning spell of 3-20 in four overs proved pivotal in swinging the game and series in Australia’s favor, just when Matthews threatened to snatch it away. Matthews, the West Indies captain, fought valiantly despite her right quad injury, racing to 79 runs from 39 balls. She displayed remarkable grit even as she struggled to run and maintain her stance at the crease.
McGrath, Litchfield’s late flourish
On the batting front, McGrath’s powerful innings, Litchfield’s late flourish, and Ellyse Perry’s contribution helped Australia reach a formidable total. McGrath smashed 11 fours and two sixes in her 65, while Perry added 40 off 30 balls after Australia encountered early trouble at 31 for 2 in the Powerplay. Litchfield played a crucial role in the latter overs with an impressive 36 runs off 17 balls, showcasing a wide range of switch-hits and reverse sweeps.
Matthews threatens, but Brown strikes
Matthews managed to muscle 11 fours and four sixes with her stand-and-deliver approach, putting Australia on edge and raising the specter of a rare home series defeat.
However, after conceding consecutive boundaries in the 11th over, Brown responded with a clever back-of-the-hand slower ball to deceive Matthews, who skied it high to cover, where Litchfield made the catch. This dismissal triggered a calamitous collapse for the West Indies, losing five wickets for just seven runs in 12 balls.
Georgia Wareham dismissed Stafanie Taylor, Gajnabi ran herself out after a laborious 27-ball innings of 16, and Brown rattled Chinelle Henry’s stumps before Shemaine Campbelle chipped a catch to mid-on.
West Indies was bowled out for 143 in the 20th over, with Aaliyah Alleyne the only other batter to reach double figures outside of the openers. Garth picked up two late wickets to finish with two for 24 from four overs, while Ash Gardner claimed three for 32.
Matthews named player of the match
Despite an excellent final over from Shamilia Connell, which saw her take two wickets, including Litchfield, and concede only three runs, Australia fell just 10 runs short of the 200-run mark. Nonetheless, their collective secured the series win.
Matthews was named player of the match for the third-straight game in the series, having scored 310 runs with just two dismissals at a striking rate of 174.15, but her heroic performance wasn’t enough to secure victory for West Indies.
The win for Australia was instrumental in securing the T20I series victory against the West Indies.
