Nottingham: Australian all-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile’s 60-ball 92 against the West Indies was not just a personal ODI best for him but also the highest by a No.8 batsman in an ICC World Cup game.
Coulter-Nile’s knock, laced with eight fours and four sixes, was pivotal in Australia’s 15-run win after the defending champions had been reduced to 79/5 at one stage of the match.
The average score by an Australian number eight since the 2015 World Cup stood at 16.3, the ICC said in a statement.
The 31-year-old from Western Australia brought up his maiden international one-day half-century with a six off Carlos Brathwaite. He survived a dropped catch on 61 before smacking consecutive sixes off Brathwaite.
He was finally caught by captain Jason Holder off the same bowler four runs short of what would have been an ODI record for a number eight.
Meanwhile, Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc became the fastest to 150 wickets in One-day Internationals on way to his match-winning five-wicket haul against the West Indies in the World Cup here.
Starc’s sixth five-wicket haul derailed West Indies’ chase in their World Cup tie at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
His figures of five for 44 guided Australia to a 15-run win over the West Indies.
Starc surpassed Pakistan great Saqlain Mushtaq to the fastest to 150 wickets. (PTI)
