[ad_1]
Australia have monstered the West Indies in the opening match of the three-match series in an eight-wicket drubbing at the MCG.
The Aussies chased down the West Indies’ 231 all out in a canter, winning with 69 balls remaining.
Watch Australia v West Indies on Kayo Sports. Every Test, ODI and T20I Live with no ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >
Travis Head was the only Aussie batter to miss out after he gave a tiny edge off Matthew Forde after hitting the first ball of the innings for four.
Josh Inglis took over immediately after Head’s departure, blasting a 28-ball half century, his third in Australian colours.
But while it seemed like he was heading for three figures for the first time in his ODI career, a swashbuckling innings came to an abrupt end when a reverse sweep went wrong.
Having largely left the broom in the shed, having only had one sweep shot his whole innings to that point, Inglis couldn’t help himself, missing on the sweep against Gudkesh Motie.
The ball bounced into his gloves and popped up for the easiest of catches for Alick Athanaze.
He appeared set for a massive score, Mark Waugh even suggesting Inglis let a “140 not out” go begging.
“He’s disappointed Josh Inglis,” Mark Waugh said. “It’s amazing — he’s been playing all these orthodox shots. As soon as he started sweeping, he’s out. You don’t need to do it.
“I’ve just spoken about how orthodox he was batting. I know he’s got all the shots but when you’re playing so well, do you have to do that?
“When you’re seeing them that well, you’ve got to cash in.”
Maybe you could forgive Inglis considering he tested positive to Covid before the match.
But after Inglis departed for 65, Cameron Green and Steve Smith guided Australia home with an unbeaten 149-run stand.
Green finished with 77 not out off 104 balls, including four fours and two sixes. Smith had a run-a-ball 79 as they guided Australia to the massive victory.
The match was set up with the ball and the incredible debut of Xavier Bartlett.
The man of the match took 4/17 off nine overs, the second best ODI figures by an Australian, second only to Tony Dodemaide’s 5/21 set back in 1988.
Bartlett ripped through the West Indian top order, taking 3/10 in his first spell, before Keacy Carty and Roston Chase saved the innings with a 110-run stand, taking their side from 4/59.
But when Chase was bowled around his legs for 59 before Carty was run out in farcical scenes after Hayden Walsh hit the ball straight to Sean Abbott in close before running, the West Indies fell to 7/194.
Some late runs from the tail got the West Indies above 200 but 231 was never going to be enough on what proved to be a belter of an MCG wicket against the reigning world champions.
The second match of the three match series will be held at the SCG on Sunday — play starts at 2pm AEDT.
8.30pm – Aussies racing to victory
Both Steve Smith and Cameron Green have brought up 50s as they cruise to victory against the Windies.
With 44 needed off 114 balls, it was all looking pretty easy for Australia.
7.30pm – ‘Don’t need to do it’: Inglis blows it
Aussie wicketkeeper Josh Inglis blasted his highest ODI score against the West Indies at the MCG but he’s let a maiden century go begging.
Inglis raced to 50 off just 28 balls and had moved on to 65 off 42 balls.
But he’d largely left the broom in the shed, having only had one sweep shot his whole innings to that point.
However, it was pulling out the reverse sweep against Gudkesh Motie that his been his downfall after he missed the ball with the easiest of catches bouncing up on his gloves.
He appeared set for a massive score, Mark Waugh even suggesting Inglis could have got 140 not out.
“He’s disappointed Josh Inglis,” Mark Waugh said. “It’s amazing — he’s been playing all these orthodox shots. As soon as he started sweeping, he’s out. You don’t need to do it.
“I’ve just spoken about how orthodox he was batting. I know he’s got all the shots but when you’re playing so well, do you have to do that?
“When you’re seeing them that well, you’ve got to cash in.”
Maybe you could forgive Inglis considering he tested positive to Covid before the match.
7.08pm – Inglis has ‘gone mad’
Josh Inglis had a few question marks over his position during the World Cup after he replaced Alex Carey.
But he’s answered all of them in a brutal innings, bringing up his 50 in just 28 balls.
A star in the BBL for several years, Inglis brought up his third ODI 50 in rapid fashion.
Having averaged just 18.87 heading into the match, he quickly rectified the situation as he bullied the West Indian attack.
After 9 overs, Australia were 1/66, Inglis on 53 and Cameron Green on 8 in what had been a 62-run stand.
6.45pm – Travis Head’s latest shocker
Travis Head had a brilliant 2023 but his 2024 season has been a struggle to say the least.
The swashbuckling batter has been caught behind in the first over the chase with a faint edge after he spanked the first ball for a boundary.
While he did hit a hundred in the first Test against the West Indies, he has 204 runs in 9 innings for the summer at just 22.67, having not passed 50 outside the century, and tallying three ducks.
Without the hundred, it drops to 10.63 for the summer.
6.09pm – Windies all out for 231
Xavier Bartlett has the second best figures on ODI debut for Australia behind only Tony Dodemaide against Sri Lanka at the WACA in 1988.
Bartlett still had an over up his sleeve when Sean Abbott claimed the last dismissal, but his 4/17 at the MCG is a remarkable performance, considering it was from nine overs and an economy rate of 1.89 runs per over.
Dodemaide had 5/21 on his debut.
When fellow debutant Lance Morris had 0/59 from his 10, Sean Abbott had 2/42 from 9.4, Cameron Green 2/40 from eight and Adam Zampa 1/56 from 10, it was a commanding performance from the Queenslander.
Australia will need 232 to win and the Windies have Keacy Carty’s 88 and Roston Chase’s 59 for there rescue mission.
5.30pm – ‘That is terrible’: Star’s unforgivable act
Oh no.
Keacy Carty has almost single-handedly dragged the Windies to a respectable score but teammate Hayden Walsh has absolutely hung him out to dry just 12 runs from his century.
Carty and Roston Chase put on 110 for the fifth wicket to rescue the Windies from 4/59.
But the wicket of Chase opened the door for the Aussies before Walsh kicked it wide open with an absolute brain fade.
Facing Aussie tearaway Lance Morris, Walsh bunted the ball to Sean Abbott at cover before taking off immediately.
He hit it a little too well though and the ball went straight to Abbott, leaving Carty well short of his ground when Abbott threw down the stumps.
“He’s got him — oh no, that’s terrible,” Isa Guha said in commentary.
“And how is Hayden Walsh going to be feeling right now.”
Probably not as bad as Carty, who was on a brilliant 88 and seemed destined for a hundred.
Kerry O’Keeffe said: “Walsh, who was desperate to get away from the strike, has BBQ’d the nonstriker Keacy Carty.
“Carty’s gutted by it, there was no run.”
Later, Adam Gilchrist called it “unforgivable”.
He’s not wrong.
Romario Shepherd then left as soon has he arrived, trapped in front by Cameron Green for a golden duck to leave the Windies 7/194.
4.30pm – Windies consolidate
The West Indies are never in a hurry but they have stopped the bleeding after an early onslaught from the new-look Aussies.
Roston Chase and Keacy Carty have got the score to 4/113 off 28 overs as they try to give their bowlers something to defend.
3.41pm – Windies in trouble
Cameron Green is in the attack early and got his first wicket when Kavem Hodge lofted a delivery to substitute fielder Mackenzie Harvey. The Windies are in trouble at 4/59.
3.30pm – MCG crowd is grim
There’s only a sprinkling of fans inside the MCG for the game, with the wide expanses of empty grey seats hard to ignore.
CODE Sports’ Daniel Cherny tweeted: “Look it’s not packed.”
Sports reporter Roy Ward said: “Glorious day at the MCG for the one-dayer between Australia and West Indies but crowd looks very modest to start with. Hopefully it picks up a little once work finishes.”
Cricket journalist Andrew Wu added: “Beautiful day for cricket in Melbourne. Not many here at the MCG. I’m showing my age. Australia v West Indies in an MCG ODI used to be one of the hottest tickets in town.”
3.14pm – Bartlett takes another!
Xavier Bartlett has made the perfect start to his ODI debut, taking another wicket with an outswinger that caught the outside edge of West Indies captain Shai Hope.
Bartlett has figures of 3/8 off five overs. The Brisbane Heat paceman was the leading wicket taker in the Big Bash and he’s continued his excellent form in the canary yellow.
“It warms your heart as an Australian to see the bench so strong,” Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket.
“The big boys are resting but look at this lot.”
2.55pm – Aussie debutant on fire early
All the talk has been about when Lance Morris will make his Australian debut, but it’s the other fast bowling debutant who has done the early damage at the MCG.
After Steve Smith won the toss and chose to bowl, Morris and Xavier Bartlett made history as the first pair of debutants to open the bowling for Australia in a home ODI since 1997.
Bartlett clean bowled Justin Greaves with a peach of an outswinger, before taking his second wicket when Alick Athanaze edged through to Josh Inglis.
2.30pm – 21yo’s omission a ‘missed opportunity’
He replaced Glenn Maxwell in the squad but Jake Fraser-McGurk wasn’t picked to make his debut despite being the most exciting white ball batting prospect in Australia.
“I think it’s a bit of a missed opportunity,” Whateley said on SEN of Fraser-McGurk’s omission from the team.
“You go sort of halfway there, generate the excitement by putting him in the squad, but then don’t please the crowd by playing him.
“I understand the integrity of selection and pecking orders and that is the right pecking order for this squad.
2.15pm – New look Australian team named
Australia XI: Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Short, Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Lance Morris, Adam Zampa
West Indies X: Justin Greaves, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (c, wk), Kaven Hodge, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Hayden Walsh Jr., Gudakesh Motie, Oshane Thomas
Originally published as Mark Waugh calls out Josh Inglis brain fade as Aussies crush West Indies
[ad_2]
Source link
