In a powerful display of batting prowess, the West Indies sent a strong message to their T20 World Cup competitors with a commanding 35-run victory over a depleted Australian side in their final warm-up match at Queen's Park Oval on Friday night.
Blistering half-centuries from Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell highlighted the West Indies' innings, propelling them to a formidable total of 257 for 4 in their 20 overs. Pooran was particularly destructive, smashing 75 from just 25 balls, including five sixes in a mere six balls against Australian spinners Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa.
Powell continued the onslaught with a quick-fire 52 from 25 balls, ensuring the West Indies maintained an aggressive tempo throughout their innings. Sherfane Rutherford added the finishing touches with an unbeaten 47 from just 18 deliveries.
Australia, struggling with a short-handed team for the second consecutive match, fielded only nine players, supplemented by coaches and selectors acting as substitute fielders. The absence of key players and the late arrival of allrounder Marcus Stoinis, whose kit was delayed in Miami, further hampered their performance.
Despite the challenges, Nathan Ellis showed promise with the ball, claiming 2 for 42 from his four overs. However, the Australian bowlers were otherwise put to the sword, with Zampa conceding 62 runs and Josh Hazlewood 55 in their respective spells.
Sent in to bat, West Indies got off to a quick start with Shai Hope and Johnson Charles laying the foundation. Pooran then took centre-stage, hitting the first three legal deliveries he faced for sixes and maintaining a high strike rate. His half-century came off just 16 balls, demonstrating his aggressive intent. Although Borovec dropped a catch off Pooran, it didn’t prove too costly as Bailey managed to dismiss him shortly after.
Powell continued the momentum with a brutal assault on Zampa and Agar, who conceded 120 runs between them. Tim David, in a rare role as a bowler, managed to be the least expensive with figures of 1 for 40 from four overs.
Chasing 258, Australia’s reply was spirited but ultimately fell short at 222 for 7. Josh Inglis top-scored with a brisk 55 off 30 balls, but the lack of depth in the batting lineup was evident. In a surprising move, Agar opened the batting and contributed 28 off 13 balls, but the rest of the lineup failed to capitalize.
David Warner, who missed the recent Australia-West Indies Test series, was bowled for 15 by Shamar Joseph after a brief flurry of boundaries. Mitchell Marsh, playing in his preferred No.3 position, was dismissed cheaply, and while David and Matthew Wade managed 25 runs each, they couldn't keep pace with the required run rate.
Gudakesh Motie was instrumental in stemming the flow of runs during the middle overs, finishing with figures of 2 for 31, including the key wickets of Inglis and David. Ellis provided some late resistance with a quick 39, sharing a 51-run stand with Zampa, who remained unbeaten on 21.
The West Indies' dominant performance, spearheaded by Pooran and Powell, sets a confident tone ahead of the T20 World Cup.
The T20 World Cup kicks off on Saturday, and the West Indies' emphatic win serves as a strong warning to their rivals as they aim for glory on the global stage.
With the 2012 and 2016 titles already to their credit, West Indies will no doubt be intent on adding this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup crown to their accolades, but achieving that feat will require efficient all-round execution from the off.
Like the 19 other participating teams in the historic June 1-29 showpiece, the Darren Sammy-coached 15-man squad –to be led by Jamaican Rovman Powell –is lined with its own fair share of talent and explosive batting, enough to prove a formidable force, as they seek to make amends for their disappointing campaign two years ago.
Still, among the blend of experience and youthful exuberance, it is no secret that a few players will be heavily relied on, more than others, to carry the weight of the Caribbean side’s chances to possibly finish tops in a tournament they co-host with United States.
That said, SportsMax.TV zones in on five key players –in no particular order –that cricket enthusiasts worldwide will undoubtedly keep a keen eye on where their performances are concerned, eager to witness the West Indies’ quest for another T20 World Cup title.
Rovman Powell –Middle order batsman and captain
Took over leadership of the T20 team from Nicholas Pooran after the failed 2022 outing in Australia. Since his appointment last year, Powell has emerged as a crucial figure in the West Indies T20 setup, both as a powerful middle-order batsman and a strategic leader. He led the regional side to three bilateral series victories over South Africa, India and England, before a loss to Australia earlier this year.
Besides the fact that Powell’s leadership skills have been instrumental in shaping a cohesive unit, his ability to turn games around with his aggressive batting style makes him a player to watch.
The hard-hitting Jamaican has so far scored more than 1,300 runs at a strike rate of 144.81 in 61 international innings and nearly 4,000 overs in all T20 matches, with 16 fifty-plus scores to his name. Powell’s penchant for big hits and sixes can also be evidenced by his boundary numbers, which feature more maximums than fours across all T20s.
Powell’s overall experience in domestic and international T20 leagues certainly adds a layer of tactical acumen to his game, and his knack for hitting sixes under pressure and guiding the team through challenging situations will be vital to West Indies' campaign.