Tri-series 2016, Match 2 Review: Australia crush Windies

Spin played a crucial role yet again as the mighty Australia crushed a hapless West Indies by six wickets in the second ODI of the Tri-series 2016. While David Warner starred with the bat, the spin twins, Nathan Lyon, and Adam Zampa picked up three wickets apiece as the Windies were blasted out in barely 32 overs. This witnesses the Australians move into the top spot on the Tri-nation series table ahead of their competitors South Africa and the West Indies.

Steve Smith won the toss and invited Jason Holder and his men to bat first. Smith also took a massive call by handing the incoming Mitchell Starc the new ball in the very first over. The rustiness of Starc was there for all to see when the lanky left-arm pacer hurled a delivery above the waist of Johnson Charles. Starc’s woes with the new ball on his return continued as he bowled a few wides whilst being smashed to the fence on numerous occasions.

Starc’s partner in crime was the reliable Josh Hazelwood. Despite the rusty bowling, Starc removed Andre Fletcher with just his 5th delivery back into cricket. Johnson Charles and Darren Bravo weathered the storm before Bravo was snapped up by Mitchell Marsh in the latter’s first over. With the danger now out of the way temporarily, Smith handed the ball back to Starc, and the latter didn’t disappoint. A full delivery on the pads with a tad-bit of inswing and Jonson Charles was on his way back to the pavilion.  Three overs later, the slump of Marlon Samuels continued when he was trapped leg-before by Nathan Lyon.

It was at this point when the spin trio of Adam Zampa, Nathan Lyon, and Glenn Maxwell was handed the reins of the bowling attack. Denes Ramdin inched 12 runs closer to his 2000 ODI runs mark. Kieron Pollard failed to replicate his heroics from the previous match as he smashed Lyon straight down the throat of David Warner at long-on. Adam Zampa then went on to dismiss the dangerous Carlos Brathwaite, skipper Jason Holder, and Sunil Narine in quick succession as the Windies was blasted out for a paltry 117 in just 32 overs.

The Australian selection conundrum was complete when Aaron Finch and David Warner made their way out to open the innings, thereby quenching the Usman Khawaja opening speculation. While David Warner played his natural game, Aaron Finch played with caution and poise, something many wouldn’t associate Finch with. Warner waded through the bowling attack of the West Indies and raced to a half-century.

While Warner blasted away, the wickets kept falling at the other end. Aaron Finch was put out of his misery when he was trapped by Jason Holder playing a needless shot. Usman Khawaja’s fluid batting came to an abrupt end when he was caught at short mid-wicket attempting to drive on the up after having made a rather well-compiled 27.

Sunil Narine came on in the death of the innings to dismiss skipper Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell in quick succession. However, Narine’s efforts were too little too late as David Warner completed his half century and completed the match, thus gifting the Aussies with a well-deserved 6-wicket win. Nathan Lyon was handed the man-of-the-match award for his exploits with the ball.

Brief Scores

West Indies 117 all out in 32.3 overs (J Charles 22; A Zampa 3/16)

Australia 118/4 in 25.4 overs (D Warner 55*; S Narine 2/36)

Man of the match: Nathan Lyon