AI Simulation, WI vs AUS | Akeal knocks over Maxwell's mayhem to help Windies take 1-0 lead

Pitch and Weather

The Sabina Park pitch appeared a different beast to the one that had wreaked havoc on batters under lights in the recent pink-ball Test, with true bounce and zip off the surface allowing batters to hit freely through the line. That being siad, there was ample movement with the brand new Kookaburra, while the spinners got enough grip toplay decisive roles.

There was rain on the horizon throughout the encounter but fortunately it never arrived, allowing for a breezy 40-over contest.

Toss

Australia won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Lineups

West Indies: Evin Lewis, Brandon King, Shai Hope (c/wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Matthew Short, Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Owen, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshuis, Matt Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa     

Match Report

Asked to bat first, the fearless Evin Lewis got West Indies off to a flying start by tearing into nwee-ball wielders Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshius. The opener struck five fours and a couple of maximums in his 25-ball 41 while Brandon King played spectator at the other end, the duo combining for 57 runs within the first five overs. However, the duo departed in quick succession either side of the powerplay, before Adam Zampa castled Sherfane Rutherford to add to the hosts' misery. Nevertheless, Shai Hope and Roston Chase brought some stability in the middle overs with a stand of 48, the former finding some momentum in the middle to keep the scorig rate healthy and end on 37 off 29. Andre Russell's farewell series began on a sour note as his knock lasted just four balls before falling victim to Zampa and with four overs to go, the Windies found themselves reeling at 136/6. However, former skipper Rovman Powell came to their rescue with a blistering 11-ball cameo of 24, taking the Caribbean side to a competitive 179/7 in their 20 overs.

In response, the Men from Down Under replicated their rivals' powerplay outburst with Matthew Short dispatching Alzarri Joseph for 17 runs in the first over to get the chase underway. With skipper Mitch Marsh alongside, Australia racked up 66 in the powerplay, despite finding Akeal Hosein impossible to hit with his uncanny drift. However, as soon as the field spread, both openers holed out in consecutive overs, triggering a mini-collapse that also saw Josh Inglis and Tim David depart in quick succession. Suddenly, the score read 94/4 at the midway stage, with Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Owen the only recognized batters left. With the latter struggling in his first Caribbean outing, the senior veteran had to assume responsibility as he did with aplomb. Maxwell farmed strike to smash three fours and as many maximums in the next five overs, but the pressure increased when Owen departed for a run-a-ball 13 with 28 required off the final four overs and Hosein had the ball in hand. To Australia's horror, the spinner produced an absolute ripper to take Maxwell's off-stump, and backed the wicket up with just four runs in the over to end his spell. Sean Abbott tried to take the lead thereafter with two boundaries in a seven-ball cameo of 11 but a searing Alzarri yorker got the better of him in the penultimate over, as the visitors failed to chase down 10 in the final over.   

Player of the Match

Akeal Hosein grabbed the man of the match honours for producing sensational figures of 2/22 in his four overs, that included a gamechanging 17th over that went for just four runs and included the wicket of Glenn Maxwell.

Scorecard