(ICC) Darren Sammy hit a blistering half-century, smashing 50 not out off just 28 balls, to seal a thrilling three-wicket win for the West Indies over Australia in a warm-up match ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 2016 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata today.
Sammy shared a 53-run partnership with Carlos Brathwaite off only 23 balls to take West Indies past Australia’s 161 for 9 with just one ball to spare. Their effort trumped Josh Hazelwood’s hat-trick, where he dismissed Jason Holder, Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo.
The pair came together with their team precariously placed at 72 for 6, still needing 90 runs off 50 balls, after Hazlewood ripped through the West Indies top order, to return figures of 3 for 13. The right-arm pacer removed Holder for 6, and then castled both Samuels and Bravo for golden ducks.
What followed for Australia though was carnage as Brathwaite hit 33 off 14 deliveries, taking a particular liking to Andrew Tye, who went for 35 runs in only 2.5 overs. The right-hander’s innings consisted of three fours and two sixes.
He was dismissed by Tye in the 16th over, but his whirlwind knock put West Indies back on track, requiring 40 off 27 deliveries. Sammy and Ashley Nurse took the team through without any further damage, getting to victory in 19.5 overs.
Earlier, Australia got off to a wonderful start having won the toss and chosen to bat. Aaron Finch and Shane Watson pummelled the bowling, sharing a 76-run stand in just 8.2 overs before Finch was dismissed by Suliemann Benn.
Steven Smith’s arrival did not change much for the Australians as the batsmen continued to take on the West Indies bowlers. However, once Watson was dismissed by Bravo for a 39-ball 60, West Indies fought back.
Bravo and Benn combined to pull things back, taking seven wickets between them to help restrict Australia to 161 for 9.
Bravo finished with figures of 4 for 21, while Benn scalped 3 for 37. Brathwaite also chipped in with two wickets.
Brief scores:
Australia 161/9 in 20 overs (Aaron FInch 33, Shane Watson 60, Steven Smith 36; Dwayne Bravo 4-21, Suliemann Benn 3-37, Carlos Brathwaite 2-16) lost to West Indies 162/7 in 19.5 overs (Andre Russell 29, Darren Sammy 50*, Carlos Bathwaite 33; Josh Hazlewood 3-13, Andrew Tye 2-35) by three wickets.
Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA
A Finch c Holder b Benn 33
S Watson c Nurse b Bravo 60
*S Smith lbw b Bravo 36
U Khawaja c wkp Ramdin b Brathwaite 5
G Maxwell b Benn 0
M Marsh c Sammy b Benn 2
+P Nevill c wkp Ramdin b Brathwaite 4
J Hastings b Bravo 10
A Zampa b Bravo 2
A Tye not out 0
Extras (lb4, w4, nb1) 9
TOTAL (9 wkts, 20 overs) 161
Did not bat: J Faulkner, J Hazlewood, D Warner, A Agar, N Coulter-Nile
Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-106, 3-114, 4-115, 5-117, 6-136, 7-151, 8-160, 9-161.
Bowling: Russell 3-0-22-0, Taylor 3-0-31-0 (w1), Holder 1-0-15-0 (nb1), DJ Bravo 4-0-21-4, Benn 4-0-37-3, Nurse 2-0-15-0 (w1), Brathwaite 3-0-16-2 (w2).
WEST INDIES
J Charles c Maxwell b Smith 14
J Holder lbw b Hazlewood 6
M Samuels b Hazlewood 0
DJ Bravo b Hazlewood 0
+D Ramdin lbw b Zampa 11
A Russell c Finch b Tye 29
*D Sammy not out 50
C Brathwaite c Maxwell b Tye 33
A Nurse not out 12
Extras (lb4, w3) 7
TOTAL (7 wkts, 19.5 overs) 162
Did not bat: E Lewis, S Badree, C Gayle, A Fletcher, S Benn, J Taylor
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-18, 3-18, 4-27, 5-49, 6-72, 7-125.
Bowling: Watson 4-0-36-0 (w2), Hazlewood 4-1-13-3, Marsh 4-0-28-0, Zampa 4-0-35-1 (w1), Smith 1-0-11-1, Tye 2.5-0-35-2.
Result: West Indies won by three wickets.
*15 players per side (11 batting, 11 fielding)
Toss: Australia.
Umpires: R Kettleborough, B Oxenford.