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In a high-octane finale to the Australia tour of West Indies 2025, Mitchell Marsh‘s side pulled off a successful chase of 171 with three wickets in hand and three overs to spare at Warner Park, St Kitts, thereby finishing the five-match T20I series on a high. After electing to bowl first, Australia’s bowlers did well to restrict West Indies to a par total of 170, before their middle-order power hitters took the game away from the hosts.
Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford rescue West Indies
Batting first, West Indies had a shaky start as Brandon King (11) and Shai Hope (9) departed early. Keacy Carty’s struggle continued with just 1 run from 8 deliveries, placing early pressure on the hosts. However, Shimron Hetmyer provided much-needed stability and flair, smashing 52 off 31 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes. He was well-supported by Sherfane Rutherford, who played a breezy knock of 35 from just 17 balls.
Lower-order contributions from Jason Holder (20) and Matthew Forde (15) took West Indies to a competitive total of 170/10 in 19.4 overs. The innings never quite gained full momentum, as Australia’s bowlers struck at regular intervals to deny any late flourish.
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Ben Dwarshuis wreaks havoc with his bowling brilliance
Australia’s bowling was spearheaded by Ben Dwarshuis, who bagged 3 wickets for 41 runs, including key breakthroughs at crucial moments. Nathan Ellis supported well with 2 wickets, while Sean Abbott, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, and Aaron Hardie chipped in with a wicket each. Maxwell’s one-over spell turned out to be a clever move as he claimed the vital scalp of Rutherford.
Chasing 171, Australia found themselves in a spot of bother at 24/3, with Maxwell falling for a first-ball duck and Josh Inglis and Marsh also dismissed cheaply. However, Cameron Green (32 off 18) steadied the innings, laying the platform for a counterattack.
The turning point came with a fiery knock from Tim David, who blasted 30 off just 12 balls, including 4 sixes, igniting the momentum shift. He was followed by Mitchell Owen, whose aggressive 37 off 17 deliveries kept the required rate under control. Hardie contributed a vital 28 while holding the innings together in the middle overs. Despite a late scare with wickets falling quickly, Australia reached the target at 173/7 in 17 overs, completing a successful chase.
