AI Simulation, WI vs AUS | Rutherford and Shepherd match-winning efforts ensures close win in fourth T20I

‌Pitch and Weather

Australia won the toss and chose to field first

West Indies: Brandon King, Shai Hope (c/wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Alzarri Joseph, Akeal Hosein, Matthew Forde.

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.

Australia won the toss and sent the West Indies into bat for the fourth consecutive time. Though the pitch had caused a bit of a problem for the batters at the start. However, the duo of Shai Hope and Brandon King cautiously fought through the tough period and managed to score 46 in the first six overs. However, the tables suddenly turned as Hope was dismissed by Sean Abbot in the eighth over as he mistimed a pull shot straight into the hands of deep square leg, and King was dismissed in the next over itself as he failed to read a wrongun by Adam Zampa, and was caught plumb in front for a score of 31. Despite the minor hiccups, Shimron Hetmyer managed to score some important runs in the middle as the West Indies were in a great position at 99/2 after 10 overs. Though it seemed that the Caribbean Kings were in control, Nathan Ellis came into the attack and deceived Roston Chase with a beautifully disguised slower yorker that crashed into his stumps in the 12th over and returned in the 14th to dismiss Hetmyer on a score of 44. The situation got worse for the Windies as Zampa got the important wickets of Rovman Powell in the 15th, and the hosts were suddenly struggling on a score of 134/5 with five overs to go. This seemed like an opportunity for the Aussies to get back in the game, but all it took was a knock from Sherfane Rutherford to wipe the smiles off their faces as he scored crucial runs in the final overs to help the West Indies reach a competitive score of 184/6 at the end of 20 overs. Rutherford ended up unbeaten on 43 off just 24 deliveries.

Australia had proved that they were a dangerous side while chasing a total in the last three fixtures, and it seemed to go the same route as skipper Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell attacked the pacers from ball one as they ended up scoring 60 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket. Though Maxwell was dismissed on 33 while playing across the line to a straight delivery by Akeal Hosein, Marsh continued the momentum along with Josh Inglis as the visitors were 96/1 at the halfway stage. However, a few tight spells from the spin duo of Hosein and Roston Chase caused a bit of worry for the Australians as Marsh was stumped of the bowling of Akeal, and Inglis' stumps were knocked over by Chase for 24. The situation got worse in the middle as Romario Shepherd dismissed last game's centurion, Tim David, and Cameron Green for cheap scores. The Aussies suddenly found themselves in a precarious position with the score at 125/5 at the end of 15 overs, needing 60 of the last five. Though there were some small cameos from Cooper Connolly and Ben Dwarshuis to keep the Invincibles in the game, they fell victim to Alzarri Joseph’s toe-crushing yorkers that crashed into their stumps in the 17th over. Sean Abbot was also looking good on a 20-run cameo, but he ended up getting dismissed by a slower bouncer by Shepherd, who completed his three-wicket haul in the 18th. The final over was bowled by Jason Holder with 15 runs to get. The former West Indies skipper kept his nerves and only conceded six runs in the over, along with the wicket of Nathan Ellis. West Indies won the game by eight runs to avoid a clean sweep in the five-match T20I series.

Romario Shepherd was awarded the player of the match for his crucial spell of 3/38 in his full quota of four overs.

Scorecard