Fresh from a spectacular performance in the field, Glenn Maxwell has picked up the baton from Josh Inglis to put Australia in a dominant position in the T20 match against the West Indies being played at Warner Park.
A blistering half-century from Inglis ensured the Aussies were well placed to reel in a target of 205 as the tourists recovered from an early blunder by skipper Mitch Marsh.
After the Western Australian departed for 51 from 30 balls, Maxwell took charge with the bat and is on the brink of reaching 50 himself, with the Victorian on 47 as the tourists reached 2-129 at the 10 over mark of their pursuit.
They require another 77 runs for success and are well ahead of the required run rate, with Cameron Green unbeaten on 20 from 11 deliveries in support of Maxwell.
Seeking to make No.3 his own leading into next year’s World Cup, Inglis came to the crease after Marsh was out LBW on the second ball of the Australian innings, but a replay showed the delivery from Jed Blades pitched outside leg stump.
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MATCH CENTRE: Australia v West Indies T20 Game 4
Earlier Nathan Ellis has bowled superbly at the death against the West Indies in the T20 being played at Warner Park, with the hosts setting the Australians a target of 205 in order to keep their unbeaten streak alive in the five match series in the Caribbean.
After a rain break delayed play for almost an hour, the West Indies managed to add only two more runs in the final four balls from Ellis and finished at 9-205, with Akeal Hosein unbeaten on 16 and Jed Blades not out on three.
While a target beyond 200 is always a test, the Aussies will be confident of reeling in the tally when play resumes given their success on Saturday, AEST, when chasing down the West Indies total of 214 in easy fashion at the same ground.
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When the flurry of rain arrived at the Saint Kitts and Nevis ground, the West Indies were 9-203 with four balls remaining in the innings. The Aussies, who have used only five bowlers in the innings, have taken wickets regularly and are seeking to bowl their rivals out for the first time in a series they lead 3-0.
The Australians were hit with a fielding penalty in the final over, which reduced the number of men allowed outside the inner-circle, after falling behind on the over rate.
While the West Indies have scored at more than 10 runs per over, the Aussies would be happy with their position given recent history in this series and at the ground.
Maxwell’s superhuman feats in the field continue at Warner Park, with the veteran Australia producing some superb moments in the field, including a great tandem-act when combining with Cameron Green to dismiss Romario Shepherd for 28.
He had previously taken a diving catch to remove West Indian captain Shai Hope in the infancy of the innings before a sensational effort to dismiss Roston Chase for a golden duck off the bowling of Aaron Hardie.
Demonstrating the depth of its T20 squad, new inclusions Xavier Bartlett and Hardie fired with the ball early in the match at Warner Park, aided by vintage fielding from Maxwell.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa was spanked for four sixes in his first two two and again conceded 50 runs in his four overs. But he did secure three wickets including Shepherd and the dangerous Sherfane Rutherford for 31 before bowling Jason Holder for 26 late in the innings.
Sean Abbott was far more expensive than usual, but secured 2-62 from his four over spell.
Bartlett, who was included for Ben Dwarshuis, was on a hattrick in the infancy of the powerplay when removing dangerous West Indian openers Brandon King and Hope in the first four overs, while Hardie also has two wickets.
Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said the one-handed effort by Maxwell to dismiss Chase was an illustration of his skill and also a demonstration of the ethic he shows when training.
“It is interesting watching Glenn Maxwell with the way he moves in the field. He does more work on the little basic things than anyone else. We have seen him take some unbelievable catches … but it is not by chance. It is the work he puts in and the details he considers,” he said.
“He spends the first half of his training working on all the basic skills in the game. He always wants to put himself in a position where he can influence the result of the game.”
The West Indies, which are seeking their first win in the series, ended the six over powerplay at 3-58 and scored heavily, but the loss of wickets hampered their bid to post a massive total as they seek their first win for the series.
Ellis did not take a wicket, but he conceded only 21 runs in his four overs in a valuable contribution with the ball.
Earlier, Australian selectors ensured there would be no repeat of Tim David’s record-breaking heroics for Australia on Sunday, with the powerhouse rested from the fourth match of the T20 series against the West Indies.
But Australian skipper Mitch Marsh believes the match will present the perfect opportunity for another Western Australian all-rounder Hardie to demonstrate his prowess as the Aussies seek to continue an unbeaten streak dating back to last September.
Hardie and Bartlett replaced David and Dwarshuis, who was expensive on Saturday, in the Australian team for the match at Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The West Indies made one change, with Mattew Forde replacing Gudakesh Motie, who was smashed for four straight sixes by David on Saturday as he secured the fastest ever century by an Australian in the T20 format.
Marsh won the toss for the fourth time in succession and again decided to send the West Indies in to bat, with Australia dominant when chasing down tallies including a mammoth 214 on Saturday at Warner Park.
David (aka Goliath) smashed the Aussies to victory in Game 3 with a stunning 102* from 37 balls on Saturday. His effort sealed victory in the five-game series.
Marsh said the Australians are determined to continue the streak as they build towards next February’s T20 World Cup.
“We’re obviously here to win the game and represent Australia,” he said.
“We said at the start of the tournament that there will be guys batting in different positions and getting opportunities in different positions, but ultimately, we are here to win.