Twitter Reactions: Dropped catches cost West Indies as Australia clinch last over thriller

Australia won the first T20I against West Indies by three wickets after Matthew Wade's heroics.

By Chaitanya Prakash

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Australia Cricket Team
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Australia Cricket Team (Photo Source: Twitter)

Australia edged past West Indies in a dramatic series opener to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match T20I series. The home side prevailed in a thrilling encounter at the Carrara Oval in Queensland on Wednesday, October. West Indies almost pulled off an incredible heist after setting a par total of 145 runs in their first innings. 

Australia, in pursuit of a tricky target, came out all guns blazing as the returning David Warner was in a hurry to finish the game, before departing in the second over. The visitors got rid of Mitch Marsh in the same over to push the home side on the back foot. But a brisk partnership between the in-form Cameron Green and Aaron Finch took the game to the Windies bowlers.

Green's dismissal sparked a mini-collapse as Australia lost three wickets for just two runs to hand the visitors the upper hand after the field restrictions. That is when the experienced pair of Finch and Matthew Wade got together for a 69-run stand to rescue the Aussies to safety. The under-fire Australian T20I skipper registered a solid half-century to bring his side to the cusp of victory before falling in the 18th over.

Finch's dismissal saw the momentum change hand for the umpteenth time in the match as the visitors squeezed out a couple of quiet overs to pile the pressure on Wade. But the veteran batter kept his cool and took his side over the line in a tense finale. Alzarri Joseph bowled his heart out for the visitors, returning with phenomenal bowling figures of 2/17, while the debutant Yannic Cariah also gave a great account of himself with 1/15 in his four overs. A couple of dropped chances in the final over ultimately cost them the win.

Cummins and Hazelwood gave Australia the upper hand with their tremendous bowling effort

Earlier, Australian skipper Aaron Finch won the toss in the series opener and elected to bowl first on a pitch that had a bit of juice and extra bounce for the fast bowlers. His decision reaped reward instantly as Australia saw the back of the dangerous Johnson Charles in the second over.

Kyle Mayers played some handsome counterattacking strokes after that early wicket to secure a decent powerplay for the visitors. But the introduction of spin halted his progress in the middle overs, with Pat Cummins getting rid of the set batter for 39 runs. The Windies lost their way after Mayers' dismissal and were reeling 106/7.

But the West Indian tail wagged to take the Men in Purple to a competitive total of 145 runs, thanks to a brisk cameo from Odean Smith (27 off 17 deliveries). While Josh Hazlewood was the most successful bowler with three wickets, it was Pat Cummins who did the damage with his impeccable bowling figures of 2/22. 

Here is how social media reacted to another masterclass from Matthew Wade:

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