West Indies Stun Australia in T20 World Cup Warm-up
On Thursday, the West Indies sent a strong message ahead of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as they registered an impressive 35-run victory over Australia in a warm-up fixture in Trinidad. The two-time T20 World Cup champions put on a dominant display, showcasing their formidable batting prowess.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran was the star of the show, smashing a superb 75 off just 25 balls, laced with a staggering eight sixes. He was ably supported by skipper Rovman Powell (52), all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford (47*), and opener Johnson Charles (40), as the West Indies posted a mammoth total of 257/4 at the Queens Park Oval.
“The West Indies’ dominant display against the defending champions has sent a clear message to the other contenders.”
Despite missing several key players, Australia put up a decent fight in their chase, with Josh Inglis (55), Nathan Ellis (39), and Ashton Agar (28) impressing. However, the daunting target proved too much, as the West Indies cruised to victory, limiting the visitors to 222/7.
Spinners Gudakesh Motie (2/31) and tall pacer Alzarri Joseph (2/44) were the pick of the West Indies bowlers, picking up two wickets each.
In another warm-up fixture on the same day, Namibia narrowly defeated Papua New Guinea by three runs (DLS method) in a rain-affected contest in Tarouba. Papua New Guinea managed to post 109/7 in their 20 overs, but Namibia’s bowlers, led by Assad Vala (2/17), kept them in the game, with the match being called off with Namibia at 93/6 in the 17th over.
As the road to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup continues, the West Indies’ dominant display against the defending champions has sent a clear message to the other contenders. With the tournament just around the corner, cricket enthusiasts can look forward to an exciting and closely contested event.
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