Josh Inglis (78 not out) and Cameron Green (56 not out) played explosive innings, leading Australia to a dominant 8-wicket victory against the West Indies in the second T20 International match with 28 balls remaining.
WI vs AUS 2nd T20I: Continuing their impressive form, Australia handed the West Indies a heavy 8-wicket defeat in the second T20 International. This match was particularly significant as it marked the farewell match for veteran West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell, but Russell couldn't be gifted a win. The fiery batting of Josh Inglis and Cameron Green dashed the Caribbean team's hopes.
Australia has now taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in this five-match T20I series. They won the first match by 3 wickets and have now registered a dominant 8-wicket win in the second match with 28 balls to spare.
West Indies Scored 172 Runs, King Provided a Quick Start
The match began with the West Indies winning the toss and electing to bat first. Opener Brandon King displayed aggressive intent, scoring 51 runs off just 36 balls. He formed a 63-run partnership for the first wicket with captain Shai Hope (9). However, once Brandon King was dismissed, the Caribbean innings faltered.
Australian bowlers made a b comeback in the middle overs. Adam Zampa took 3 wickets, while Glenn Maxwell and Nathan Ellis claimed two wickets each. Ben Dwarshuis took one wicket. The West Indies team could only manage 172 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs.
Russell's Farewell Didn't Go as Planned
This match was Andre Russell's last international T20 match, but his farewell didn't go according to expectations. Although Russell played a quickfire innings of 36 runs off 15 balls, including two fours and four sixes, his innings couldn't provide the team with the desired momentum. Russell was caught out by wicketkeeper Inglis off Nathan Ellis's bowling.
Inglis-Green's Record-Breaking Partnership
Australia had a slightly slow start while chasing the target of 173 runs. Glenn Maxwell (12) and captain Mitchell Marsh (21) returned to the pavilion early. However, Josh Inglis and Cameron Green then took charge, smashing the bowlers all around the ground. The duo forged an unbroken 131-run partnership for the third wicket, which became Australia's highest-ever partnership for the third wicket in T20Is.
This partnership surpassed the previous record of 118 runs held by Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell. Josh Inglis scored an unbeaten 78 runs off 33 balls, including 7 fours and 5 sixes. Cameron Green scored an unbeaten 56 runs off 32 balls, including 3 fours and 4 sixes. Thanks to their explosive batting, Australia achieved the target in just 15.2 overs, losing 2 wickets.
Bowlers Laid the Foundation for Victory
The Australian bowlers displayed excellent discipline in this match. Zampa broke the West Indies' middle order with his spin, while Ellis and Maxwell kept the batsmen in check with their pace and slower balls. Fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis also bowled tightly in the powerplay. This victory for Australia was a result of excellent coordination between both ball and bat.
On the strength of this performance, they secured a 2-0 lead in the series. The third T20I match of the series will be played on Saturday. Where the West Indies will try to bounce back, Australia will aim to move towards a clean sweep.
