Lewis leads Windies to 4th Twenty20 win vs Australia
GROS ISLET, St Lucia, July 17, (AP): West Indies stand-in captain Nicholas Pooran won his first toss of the series and decided to bat against Australia in the final Twenty20 matchy. Then opener Evin Lewis took over.
Player-of-the match Lewis scored 79 runs off 34 balls, including 9 sixes, to put the Caribbean side well on its way to its fourth win in the five-match series. Despite a late collapse, the West Indies scored its highest total of the series - 199 for eight.
The West Indies bowlers, backed up by some outstanding fielding, restricted Australia to 183-9 to clinch a 16-run win.
Australia was looking strong in reply until they lost two wickets for five runs, including a spectacular onehanded diving catch at long-on by Fabian Allen to remove captain Aaron Finch for 34. Andre Russell and Sheldon Cottrell took three wickets each for the West Indies.
Pooran added 31 to Lewis’ dominant batting display and the West Indies were at 168-4 when they lost 4-25 before tailender Hayden Walsh Jr. hit a six to end the home side’s innings. Andrew Tye made his first appearance of the tour and led the Australian bowlers with 3-37, while
Bangladesh hammer Zimbabwe in 1st ODI
HARARE, Zimbabwe, July 17, (AP): Opener Liton Das made a century and Shakib Al Hasan’s 5-30 broke a national record as Bangladesh hammered Zimbabwe by 155 runs in the first one-day international.
Das’ 102 saved Bangladesh from 74-4 and lifted the visiting team to 279-6 in 50 overs batting first at Harare Sports Club.
Zimbabwe was all out for 121 in just 28.5 overs for a hefty home defeat.
Shakib’s five made him Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs, overtaking seam bowler and former captain Mashrafe Mortaza.
Wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva made 54 for Zimbabwe but there was hardly any other resistance as Shakib’s left-arm spin claimed four of the last five wickets.
Adam Zampa and Mitch Marsh added two wickets each.
“When you score runs against these teams you feel very good,” Lewis said. “It’s good for us, we have a lot of confidence going into Pakistan but want to keep playing smart cricket.”
The West Indies open a home series of five T20s against Pakistan on July 28, followed by two tests beginning Aug. 13.