Aaron Finch-led Australia survived a scare in the first T20I of the two-T20I series at Carrara Oval, Queensland. Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022, the defending champions experimented with the batting order and in the end managed to win the last-over thriller by three wickets. Aaron Finch dropping himself down the order helped the hosts as he stitched a vital partnership with Matthew Wade after half of the side departed before the eighth over was completed.
After winning the toss, like most captains do, Finch opted to field first. Josh Hazlewood continued his good form with the new ball and got the wickets of Johnson Charles (3) and Brandon King (12). Kyle Mayers played a few impressive shots to help his side scored 53 runs in the powerplay overs.
Pat Cummins got the wicket of Mayers in the 10th over. The southpaw scored 39 runs from 36 deliveries including five fours and one six. Skipper Nicholas Pooran (2) could not get the run rate up and got lbw off Mitchell Starc's bowling. Meanwhile, Raymon Reifer (19) struggled to find a boundary and got out to Cameron Green. Rovman Powell became Hazlewood's final victim of the day. Cummins struck again as well to get rid of a rampant Jason holder who had hit two sixes during his short stay at the crease. In the 18th over, Alzarri Joseph hit a huge six but became Starc's second victim of the day.
In the last two overs, Odean Smith played a much-needed cameo to help West Indies put up a fighting total. Smith scored 27 runs off 17 deliveries. He hit three fours and one six before getting run out off the final ball of the innings. Despite losing too many wickets, the visitors posted 145/9.
It was expected to be an easy run chase the way Australia started the innings. Returning to the side after rest, David Warner hit three fours in his 14-run knock but got dismissed by Sheldon Cottrell. In the same over, Mitchell Marsh (3) got out as well. Skipper Finch joined Cameron Green in the middle who scored 14 runs before getting bowled by Joseph in the final over of the powerplay overs. Despite losing their top-order, West Indies had 56/3 on the board after fielding restrictions were lifted.
In the next two overs, Australia lost their two big-hitters Glenn Maxwell and Tim David for ducks. Debutant Yannic Cariah dismissed Maxwell whereas Holder got rid of David. Australia were struggling for 58/5 in the eighth over. Wade joined Finch in the middle. In the 12th over, Finch and Wade took on Cottrell and scored 18 runs. The boundaries dried up for a while. Meanwhile Finch got to his half-century from 45 deliveries.
Joseph got the wicket of Finch off the first ball of the 18th over as the hosts looked like cruising towards the victory. Finch scored 58 runs from 53 balls including six fours. In the penultimate over, Cummins got bowled by Smith.
In the final over, Australia needed 11 runs to win. Wade started off with a boundary against Cottrell. The next ball, he went for a big shot but got dropped by Reifer at deep point. He took a single after that. Starc got on strike and he mistimed a big shot which was dropped by Mayers at backward point. With two runs needed off the last two, Starc found the gap and got Australia over the line. Had it not been for West Indies sloppy catching in the final over, the outcome of the game could have been different.
