Gros Islet (St Lucia), July 11: Shimron Hetmyer made 61 in a 103-run partnership with Dwayne Bravo which set the West Indies on course to a comprehensive 56-run win over Australia in the second Twenty20 international.
Bravo went on to make an unbeaten 47 on Saturday as the West Indies made 196-4, plundering 123 runs from their last 10 overs against a limp Australian attack.
Australia matched the West Indies’ tempo at first as Mitchell Marsh made a second consecutive half century, following his 51 in the first match of the series with 54 from 42. But for the second time the rest of Australia’s batsmen provided little resistance and the tourists were bowled out for 140 with four balls remaining.
For the second time in the series, Australia captain Aaron Finch’s decision to bowl on winning the toss seemed unfounded. His leading bowlers again struggled in West Indies conditions with Mitchell Starc conceding 49 runs from his four overs after returning 0-40 in the first match.
Lendl Simmons provided solidity at the top of the order for the West Indies with 30 from 21 balls before Hetmyer stepped up to play the vital anchor role through the middle of the innings.
Hetmyer reached his second T20 international 50 from 29 balls, going to the milestone with a six off Starc. He finished with four sixes and two fours, taking his 61 runs from 36 balls before being run out in the 18th over.
The West Indies innings flourished in its second half where Australia’s wilted.
The West Indies backed up their batting performance with another outstanding effort in the field.
Hayden Walsh junior bowled an excellent spell of leg spin through the middle of the innings, troubling the Australian batsmen with his pace-off style and finishing with 3-29. Chris Gayle bowled Josh Hazlewood with his second delivery in the final over to end the Australian innings. (AP)
Brief Scores
West Indies 196/4 in 20 overs
(S Hetmyer 61, D Bravo 47*; M Marsh 1/18)
Australia 140 all out in 19.2 overs
(M Marsh 54; H Walsh 3/29).
