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David Warner and Tim David led the batting assault while Mitchell Starc wrapped by the West Indian batters as the hosts romped to a 31-run victory over the visitor to seal the two-match series 2-0 in what was an easy series whitewash after losing 2-1 to India in their previous campaign.
Brandon King was the better of the West Indies top order batters with an 18-ball 23 while Johnson Charles went at a slow pace, scoring 29 off 30 balls after the Australians set a target of 179 runs for their opponents. But once Adam Zampa managed to bag his wicket, it was easy pickings for the Australian pace attack with Mitchell Starc at the forefront.
Pacers rule the roost
Starc first got opener Kyle Mayers in the first over itself, before dismantling the middle order with the wickets of skipper Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder in three consecutive overs. This is also a testament to Aaron Finch's captaincy calls today, with Jason Holder looking dangerous initially but the pacers did not let the batters settle down before they wrapped up the match.
Akeal Hosein led a final charge for the West Indians but was dismissed by Pat Cummins, who also joined the party with the wickets of Rovman Powell (18 off 17) and followed by Hosein (25 off 19).
Josh Hazlewood was also in the mix despite not getting a wicket in the match. In his four overs, the pacer was highly economical, giving away just 19 overs with an economy of 4.75. Even all-rounder Cameron Green joined the action with the wicket of Charles. Eventually, with 36 needed off the last over, Starc easily wrapped up the match, dismissing Odean Smith on the first ball of the last over.
The David-David show
Earlier, David Warner proved his credentials yet again with a brilliant 41-ball 75 at a strike rate of 182.92. As the wickets fell around him, Warner kept steady. Alzarri Joseph took point for the West Indian pacers, first getting Green for just one run in his first over. Finch then took a back seat to let Warner rain carnage over the West Indian bowlers, before losing his wicket off Obed McCoy's bowling.
This did not deter Warner, who kept going but Odean Smith was the bowler who ended his good form with a brilliant caught and bowled. With the dangerous opener back into the pavilion the onus fell on Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell, but the latter was run-out by the West Indies skipper Pooran.
With the Aussies reeling at 100-4 in the 13th over, in came Tim David, who once again proved the management's decision to recruit him into the team ahead of the T20 World Cup. David smashed the ball across the park at a strike rate of 210.00 and hit four fours and three sixes along the way. This meant Smith took a backseat as David took control of the proceedings with his 20-ball 42 taking the hosts to 156 before losing his wicket to Obed McCoy.
Smith soon followed Tim David to the pavilion while Matthew Wade led the charge in the final overs to take Australia to a competitive score.
