The West Indies, showcasing a formidable display of power-hitting, secured a significant 35-run victory over Australia in a warm-up fixture ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The match took place on Thursday at Queens Park Oval in Trinidad. Nicholas Pooran spearheaded the West Indies’ batting assault with an explosive 75 runs off just 25 balls, featuring eight sixes and five fours. His stellar performance, along with contributions from skipper Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, and opener Johnson Charles, propelled the hosts to a mammoth total of 257/4.
Australia’s bowlers struggled to contain the aggressive West Indies lineup, with key players like Adam Zampa conceding 62 runs in his four overs while taking two wickets. Josh Hazlewood and Ashton Agar also endured heavy punishment, giving away 55 and 58 runs respectively in their four-over quotas.
In response, Australia mounted a commendable effort despite the absence of several key players. Josh Inglis, Nathan Ellis, and Ashton Agar emerged as the top performers for Australia, but the daunting target proved too challenging. The 2021 T20 World Cup champions concluded their innings at 222/7. For the West Indies, spinner Gudakesh Motie and pacer Alzarri Joseph were the standout bowlers, each claiming two wickets.
In another warm-up fixture on Thursday, Namibia edged out Papua New Guinea by three runs in a rain-affected match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba. Papua New Guinea managed 109/7 in their 20 overs, with Namibia reaching 93/6 in the 17th over when the match was called off due to rain. Assad Vala’s inspired spell kept Namibia in check, but the African side was in a precarious position before the match’s premature end.
These warm-up matches have set an exciting stage for the upcoming T20 World Cup, highlighting the form and potential of several teams as they prepare for the main event. The West Indies’ emphatic performance, in particular, signals their readiness to compete fiercely as co-hosts of the tournament.
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