BASSETERRE – Cameron Green’s unbeaten 55 and a rapid 51 from Josh Inglis powered Australia to a three-wicket win over West Indies, sealing a 4-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Chasing a target of 206, the Australians crossed the finish line in the final over, despite a few late hiccups. Green anchored the chase with his third fifty of the series, while Inglis set the platform early with a blazing 51 off 28 balls, laced with 10 boundaries and a six.
Earlier, West Indies posted 205-9, but once again failed to defend a 200-plus total, the seventh such instance, the most by any ICC member. The hosts lost opener Shai Hope early for 10, two days after his century heroics, caught brilliantly by Glenn Maxwell off Xavier Bartlett.
The middle order made key contributions, with Sherfane Rutherford (31 off 15) top-scoring, and support from Rovman Powell (28), Romario Shepherd (28) and Jason Holder (26). Australia’s bowling was led by Aaron Hardie, who returned 2-24 in four overs, removing Roston Chase for a golden duck and later dismissing Powell. Adam Zampa claimed 3-54, while Bartlett and Sean Abbott took two wickets apiece.
Australia’s chase started shakily with skipper Mitchell Marsh dismissed for a duck in the first over, Jediah Blades’ first T20I wicket. However, Inglis and Maxwell (47 off 18) launched a 66-run blitz to regain control.Maxwell fell to Akeal Hosein just after the halfway mark, and Blades rocked the Aussies with a double strike in the same over, removing Mitchell Owen (2) and Cooper Connolly (0) to reduce them to 134-5.
Green’s composure, however, proved decisive. He stitched a 51-run stand with Hardie, before the latter holed out to Holder for 32. Bartlett was run out in the 19th over, but Abbott held firm to score the winning run, just as the rain began falling at Warner Park.Australia’s Caribbean dominance continues, extending their winning streak to seven matches after a 3-0 Test sweep. The Aussies had previously won the T20 series opener by three wickets, followed by an eight-wicket win powered by Green and Inglis in Kingston. Tim David’s explosive 37-ball century in the third match sealed the series. The final match takes place Tuesday in Saint Kitts.
Scores in Brief
AUSTRALIA 206-7 (Green 55*, Inglis 51, Blades 3-29) beat WEST INDIES 205-9 (Rutherford 31, Zampa 3-54, Hardie 2-24) by 3 wickets.
