AUS (Thandamilk) vs WI (Rizzyx) 2nd Match
AUS (Thandamilk) vs WI (Rizzyx) at Jamaica
Toss: Australia
Aus 209/8 in 20.0
Hussey 75 (46), Hughes 40 (23), Clarke 34 (15), Powell 4/30
beat
West Indies 161 all out in 18.5
Nash 37 (16), White 3/41
by 48 runs
------------------
Australia & West Indies have now completed their two games with each other in Group B, sharing the honors with one win each. After the thrashing the Windies gave Australia in their previous game, it wasn't looking any better for them as they started off disastrously to be 2 down for single digits. They lost another couple of wickets but kept attacking, to be 67/4 at the 8 over mark.
An attacking 80 run partnership between Hussey and Hughes followed before Hughes fell going for broke. Overs 14-18 went the way of the Windies with Australia failing to accelerate, and at one point looking at a sub-par 180 on a short ground.
Michael Clarke had other plans though and he put the Aussies over 200 with a belligerent 34.
The Aussies showed tremendous respect to the Windies medium pacers Roach and Powell; both of who did a great job going for less than 8 an over and picking up 6 wickets between them. They didn't have much support from the other bowlers though. The Aussies, and Clarke in particular, got stuck into Edwards; taking him for 50 off his 4.
Given the Windies' batting performance in their first match, 209 was just about a par score on the smallish Jamaica ground. Like the Aussies, WI lost early wickets and, other than a brief period when Nash was at the crease, kept losing them at regular intervals.
At 89/4 in less than 10 overs, the Windies were very much in the hunt. Over the next 3 overs though, they lost 4 quick wickets which pretty much sealed their fate. Roach and Powell added 31 for the last wicket. In what is likely to be an extremely competitive group, every run could count if it comes down to NRR between tied teams.
Good game Rizzy. I really didn't think I stood a chance after yesterday.