Australia require 171 to complete a first ever men’s T20I five-match series whitewash after the Australian bowlers shared the love in the final T2o of the series in St Kitts.
Ben Dwarshuis led the way with 3/41 from four overs, including two crucial powerplay wickets as well as the scalp of half-centurion Shimron Hetmyer (52 off 31 balls), in his return to the side as all six Australian bowlers took a wicket.
The hosts total of 170 all out is the lowest in the series and it came as a result of the Australians ability to continually take wickets throughout the innings.
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Hetymer was running out of partners before he fell immediately after reaching his fifty in the 17th over.
Earlier in the innings it was Sherfane Rutherford who threatened to take the game away from Australia.
The powerful left-hander was ultimately knocked over by Glenn Maxwell for 35 off 17 balls, and Rutherford lost his cool, sending his helmet flying as he walked off the ground after failing to convert a dangerous start into a big score.
Maxwell had Australian captain Mitchell Marsh in stitches as he directed a haircut celebration towards the dressing room after an arm ball crashed into Rutherford’s stumps.
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The key breakthrough made up for an uncharacteristic drop catch earlier in the innings by Maxwell at mid on, but thankfully for the Australians, dropping the straightforward chance was not too costly as West Indies opener Brandon King was dismissed the following over.
Opting for Maxwell to take the pace off the ball against the rampaging Rutherford was a shrewd piece of captaincy from Marsh, whose extraordinary run of winning tosses continued with the visitors opting to bowl first for the fifth straight match.
Marsh could not help but chuckle as his correct call meant Australia won all eight tosses on this tour, a freakish one in 256 chance of happening.
Adam Zampa celebrated his 100th T20I appearance with impressive figures of 1/20 from three overs.
The leg spinner is only the fourth Australian men’s player to reach the milestone alongside Glenn Maxwell, David Warner and Aaron Finch.
“I don’t think there’s a more influential player in this Australian team than Adam Zampa,” Brad Haddin said on ESPN’s coverage.
“This man is the most important bowler in the Australian cricket team. Under pressure, the ball goes to him, he can bowl in all three fazes of the game
“He can now put his name up with some of our great bowlers … Shane Warne, Brad Hogg, he’s right up there.”
Marsh announced two changes to the Australian XI for the series finale in St Kitts with game three hero Tim David returning in place of youngster Cooper Connolly, while Ben Dwarshuis replaced Xavier Bartlett.
Meanwhile, the hosts were fined ten per cent of their match for a slow over rate during the fourth T20 against Australia in St Kitts.
On Monday evening, the ICC confirmed match referee Reon King adjudicated that the hosts were two overs behind the target over rate during Australia’s three-wicket victory at Basseterre’s Warner Park on Saturday.
West Indies captain Shai Hope pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction.
Australia XI: Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Marsh (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitch Owen, Aaron Hardie, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa
West Indies XI: Keacy Carty, Brandon King, Shai Hope (capt & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Jediah Blades
“SPECTACULAR” Maxwell efforts stun WI | 00:41
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