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29 March 2024

Australia vs West Indies World T20: Sammy seals emotional win for Windies

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

West Indies captain Darren Sammy smashed back-to-back sixes to seal a thrilling six-wicket victory over Australia in an emotionally-charged World Twenty20 Group Two match on Friday.

James Faulkner had added spice to the contest after Australian media quoted him as saying he does not particularly like the West Indies team and the all-rounder was asked to bowl the final over with 12 runs needed off it.

Sammy, who took 17 runs off the previous over to drag West Indies back into the match, could not score off the first two balls but hit the next two for six to seal victory with two balls to spare and trigger wild celebration from his team mates who rushed on to the pitch.

"As I said before the match, talk is cheap," Sammy, adjudged man-of-the-match for his 13-ball 34 not out, told reporters.

"Cricket is a game of action and you could talk all you want but it's action that happens on the field that matters.

"No doubt the win will definitely hurt them, I guess Faulkner would not like us anymore," he quipped.

Their second win in three matches consolidated West Indies' position in Group Two but Australia's semi-final hopes look bleak after back-to-back defeats.

Glenn Maxwell (45) and Brad Hodge (35) helped Australia overcome a top-order collapse to post a competitive 178 for eight after opting to bat first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Australia lost Aaron Finch, David Warner and Shane Watson in successive overs to slump to 41 for three in the sixth over before Maxwell played in trademark fashion, welcoming Sammy into the attack with two fours and a six.

Samuel Badree dismissed Maxwell in the 12th to cut short his busy 22-ball innings and Hodge chipped in with a 26-ball cameo to help Australia pass the 175-run mark.

In reply, Dwayne Smith fell after adding 50 runs for the opening stand but his partner Chris Gayle (53) continued punishing the Australians.

When Gayle was on 26, Brad Haddin squandered a stumping opportunity off Maxwell, who eventually took a catch in the deep to remove the batsman before erupting into an animated celebration.

Dwayne Bravo (27) and Sammy produced a few lusty blows to take West Indies home before tossing their bats and breaking into wild celebration in front of their crestfallen opponents.

"I'd imagine it makes it pretty difficult," Australia captain George Bailey said of his team's mathematical chances of reaching the last four stage of the only major tournament Australia have never won.

"We lost two close games in a tournament where we cannot afford to lose two close games."

Bailey denied there was any non-cricketing reason to ask Faulkner bowl the last over.

"Just pure death (bowling) skills," Bailey said.

WEST INDIES INNINGS

Darren Sammy hammered two sixes in the final over as West Indies chased down Australia's 178 with two balls to spare sealing a six-wicket victory.

West Indies made a strong start needing 179 to win as Chris Gayle hammered 53 from 35 balls including six boundaries and two sixes. Lendl Simmons continued the good work with a 24-ball 26 but it was Dwayne Bravo (27 not out) and Sammy (34 not out) who shared an unbroken 49-run stand to win the game.

Glenn Maxwell top scored with a gritty 45 while Brad Hodge chipped in with 35 as Australia posted 178 for eight in 20 overs.

For West Indies, spinners dominated the show with Samuel Badree, Sunil Narine and Marlon Samuels all claiming two wickets each.

Sammy you beauty, what a finish. Two sixes and all Windies players are in the ground celebrating. Super show from them as they seal a six-wicket victory.

A top over for Windies as Sammy hammers two boundaries and a six to ensure the Carribeans need 12 from 6 balls. WI 167-4 in 19 overs.

11 runs from that over and Bravo scores two boundaries. WI 148-4 in 18 overs.

A fine over from Starc including the wicket of Samuels but Bravo struck a good six off the last ball to ease things. WI 137-4 in 17 overs.

Superb diving catch from Haddin as Samuels is gone. Windies need 49 runs from 21 balls. WI 130-4 in 16.3 overs.

Marlon Samuels c Haddin b Starc 12 (15b 1x4 0x6)

West Indies are 126 for 3 in 16 overs.

A good over for West Indies. A boundary from Samuels and a six from Bravo has given the Windies a good chance to close in. Windies need 57 from 30 balls. WI 122-3 in 15 overs.

That was a good shot from Simmons but Maxwell did well to take it on the boundary line. He kept his calm as Windies lose another set batsman. WI 107-3 in 13.5 overs.

Lendl Simmons c Maxwell b Bollinger 26 (24b 3x4 0x6)

Samuels is in the middle. He was good in the previous game against Bangladesh. WI 103-2 in 13 overs.

Big wicket for Australia as Muirhead removes Gayle. WI 101-2 in 12.1 overs

Chris Gayle c Maxwell b Muirhead 53 (35b 6x4 2x6)

The 50-run partnership comes off 43 balls. WI 101-1 in 12 overs.

Gayle gets to his half century from 32 balls studded with six boundaries and two sixes. WI 93-1 in 11 overs.

Simmons cracks a boundary and then laps it up for a couple as WI reach 87 for 1 half way through the innings.

Just two runs from Faulkner over. Windies need 101 from 66 balls. WI 78-1 in 9 overs.

Gayle on 45 while partnership with Simmons reaches 26 off 18 balls. WI 76-1 in 8 overs.

A rare quiet over for Australia. Just nine runs of it. WI 70-1 in 7 overs.

Gayle already on 41 from just 17 balls. A flat six over long-on. WI 61-1 in 6 overs.

This time Haddin does not make any mistake as he takes a catch to pack off Smith. WI 50-1 in 5 overs.

Dwayne Smith c Haddin b Starc 17 (19b 4x4 0x6)

Gayle already has six boundaries in his 30 coming off just 11 balls. He could have been stumped but survives after Haddin misses a quick chance. WI 46-0 in 4 overs.

West Indies openers are on fire here. Two boundaries from Smith and a six from Gayle. WI 33-0 in 3 overs.

That's real hammering from Gayle. Poor soul Starc could just watch in shock. Four successive boundaries. WI 18-0 in 2 overs.

A good start for Australia as Watson gives just two runs from the opening over. WI 2-0 in 1 over.

Gayle and Smith to open for West Indies as the crowd will await the powerful batsmen to come with some big shots. Watson to bowl

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

A long over from Bravo with three wides as Australia finish at 178 for 8 in 20 overs.

Bravo bowls two wides but comes back well to pick the wicket off Starc. Aus 171-8 in 19.3 overs.

Mitchell Starc c Russell b Bravo 4 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Haddin gets a six after the wicket of Faulkner. Australia have a good total already. Another 10 runs or more should keep them happy. Aus 168-7 in 19 overs.

Acrobatic catch from Bravo as Faulkner returns to the hut. Aus 154-7 in 18.2 overs.

James Faulkner c Bravo b Santokie 13 (17b 1x4 0x6)

Narine removes Hodge. He attempts a reverse sweep and misses it completely to get bowled. Aus 152-6 in 17.5 overs.

Brad Hodge b Narine 35 (26b 2x4 1x6)

Australia 148-5 in 17 overs.

West Indies bowlers have been very impressivev. Another tidy over from Santokie. Aus 132-5 in 16 overs.

Hodge gets a boundary off the last ball of Russell. Earlier Russell gave away five easy runs bowling a beamer. Aus 128-5 in 15 overs.

Great over from Narine. He is remarkably perfect on his line. Aus 113-5 in 14 overs.

Bravo is bowling well and has given only 13 runs from his first two overs. Aus 108-5 in 13 overs.

Badree finishes his spell. He was expensive giving away 37 runs but claimed two wickets. Aus 101-5 in 12 overs.

Badree removes the dangerman Maxwell. He was firing from all guns. Aus 100-5 in 11.3 overs.

Glenn Maxwell c Bravo b Badree 45 (22b 5x4 3x6)

Australia are 94-4 in 11 overs.

Maxwell holding his end firm. Gets 10 runs from two balls as he reaches 34 from just 14 balls. Aus 88-4 in 10 overs.

That was a bad shot from Bailey as he offers a simple catch to Sammy at short midwicket. Samuels gets his second wicket. Aus 77-4 in 9.3 overs.

George Bailey c Sammy b Samuels 12 (12b 0x4 1x6)

A big over for Australia. Maxwell takes on skipper Sammy to hammer him for 16 runs including two fours and a six. Aus 75-3 in 9 overs.

A superb over from Narine. Was unlucky to give a boundary that came off a thin edge off Maxwell. Aus 59-3 in 8 overs.

Bailey cracks a six off the last ball of Badree as Australia reach 50 for 3 in 7 overs.

A wicket maiden for Narine. What a start to his spell. Aus 41-3 in 6 overs.

Australia looking worried. They lose another big hitter in Watson. Good work from Ramdin behind the stumps. Aus 41-3 in 5.4 overs.

Shane Watson st Ramdin b Narine 2 (8b 0x4 0x6)

That's a big wicket for Windies. Badree's ball skids through quickly to rattle Warner's stumps. Aus 41-2 in 4.5 overs.

David Warner b Badree 20 (14b 4x4 0x6)

Watson comes in. Aus 35-1 in 4 overs.

Aaron Finch is bowled by Samuels. He goes for a wild sweep and misses it. Aus 33-1 in 3.4 overs.

Aaron Finch b Samuels 16 (11b 2x4 1x6)

It's Warner this time. He finds the gaps easily to get two fours. Aus 28-0 in 3 overs.

Finch gets going smashing a six and then two boundaries. Badree gives away 16 runs in his opening over. Aus 19-0 in 2 overs.

Runs coming in just singles for Australia openers. Good start from Santokie. Aus 4-0 in 1 over.

David Warner and Aaron Finch take guard as Sammy decides to start with Krishmar Santokie.

Both teams finish their anthems as Windies players enter the field and cuddle up.

Australia skipper Bailey was quick to choose to bat winning the toss. With the ball expected to come on to the bat, the Aussies will look to post a big total.

West Indies skipper Sammy is not too worried and says his bowlers including Naraine can be crucial in containing the Aussies.

Playing XI:


Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, George Bailey, Brad Hodge, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Starc, James Muirhead, Doug Bollinger.

West Indies: Dwayne Smith, Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Samuel Badree, Krishmar Santokie

PREVIEW

Defending champions West Indies and Australia face off in a do-or-die clash in Dhaka on Friday as action resumes in group two of the World Twenty20 Super-10s after a two-day break.

India lead what is billed as the 'group of death' with two consecutive wins, while Australia, the West Indies, Pakistan and hosts Bangladesh have lost a game each.

Three wins in four games will not guarantee a team one of the two semi-final places from the group, but two defeats will almost certainly hasten an early exit.

George Bailey's Australians, seeking a maiden World T20 title after winning the 50-over World Cups four times, were beaten by Pakistan in their only match so far in the tournament.

The West Indies, who lost to India, bounced back to thrash Bangladesh by 73 runs on Tuesday, which gave the champions the best net run-rate in the group of 1.75.

Australia have three matches in hand and the West Indies two, but neither side can afford to lose the opening game of Friday's double-header at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.