Latest news with #Basseterre
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Sport
- Times of Oman
West Indies skipper stays positive as they shift attention to Pakistan
Basseterre: After the West Indies' terrible 5-0 T20I series defeat to Australia, skipper Shai Hope has now shifted focus to the upcoming challenge against Pakistan, according to the official website of the ICC. Shai Hope pointed to his side's lack of consistency as the key factor behind the West Indies' series defeat. The skipper expressed disappointment over the batting unit's inability to put together a complete performance, which allowed Australia to comfortably chase down targets in each game. "I just didn't think we put together a proper batting display. We either started well and finished poorly or the other way around," he said, as quoted from the official website of ICC. "When you're playing against quality opposition like Australia, you've got to put things together for a more complete game," he noted. The first three matches of the series were marked by West Indies' batters failing to capitalise on strong starts. In the opener, they were cruising at 123 for 1 in the 13th over but ended up with just 189. The second game followed a similar pattern--after a promising 63 for 0 start, they could only post 172. In the third match, a 125-run opening stand went in vain as the middle order failed to fire on a batting-friendly pitch. While in the last two games, West Indies struggled with poor starts that left too much to do for the middle order. "As a batting group, we didn't really give ourselves the best chance to put a big score on the board consistently. And that's probably where we fell short. We've always been one step behind the eight ball," he said. A significant aspect of this series was that the West Indies consistently set the target, which goes against the common belief that chasing is usually the easier option in the Caribbean. "I think here in the Caribbean, we all know the stats show chasing is always the better thing to do," Hope said. "Whether it's the dew factor or wind factor, you always have that scoreboard in front of you, so you have an idea of how to go about the chase. But it's something that I can't control. Unfortunately, I didn't win any (tosses)... It's just one of those things for us," he added. The skipper, however, praised his bowling unit for showing great fight in what was a challenging series. He expressed confidence that the upcoming series against Pakistan, starting July 31, would be a valuable opportunity for the team to build on the lessons learnt from the Australia series. "I think that we're a little bit clearer in the bowling unit," said Shai Hope. "I still must commend the guys for the effort that they showed in the back end to give ourselves a chance to win the game. But once you don't have that many runs on the board, then you have got to hope everything goes perfectly in the field. It just didn't happen for us," he noted. "We certainly executed a lot better than we did in the first few games. We've got to put this one behind us and look ahead for the Pakistan series and see where we can get that combination and that success going," he added. (
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aussies make history with Windies demolition
A T20 'transition' is happening in real time and tracking towards World Cup success, according to spin star Adam Zampa, as Australia completed a first-ever 5-0 series clean sweep against the West Indies in Basseterre. In the absence of key fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, Ben Dwarshius and Nathan Ellis combined for five wickets to roll the home team for just 170 batting first in the final encounter. A golden duck to fill-in opener Glenn Maxwell as a part of a top-order collapse that reduced the tourists to 3-25 put the chase in jeopardy. But then Tim David smashed 30 runs off 12 balls and the powerful Australian middle order, including revelation Mitch Owen (37 off 16) and man of the series Cameron Green (32 off 17), pushed hard to set up the history-making, three-wicket win with three overs to spare. 'I didn't expect 5-0 at the start of the series,' captain Mitch Marsh said. 'But we played some great cricket. It was something we spoke about after the fourth game. We knew no Australian team had completed a clean sweep. 'We've had guys come in and played different roles for us. We spoke pre-tour about having flexibility and fluidity as a group. 'The way T20 is going teams just keep going now and it's exciting and hopefully we can continue our power hitting.' Owen and Green smashed 22 runs off the eighth over, the biggest haul of the game, with the duo and David combining for nine fours and seven sixes, including one Owen smashed out of the ground as the new power-hitting Aussies showed the way. 'I'm still trying to work T20 batting out. I had some great partnerships during the series,' said Green, who hopes to be back bowling soon. Playing in his 100th T20 international, becoming just the fourth Australian to reach the mark, Zampa said the team's rebuilding had taken a huge step in the West Indies. The emergence of Green in the batting order, debuts for Owen and spinner Matt Kuhnemann, as well as an increased presence from all-rounder Aaron Hardie and more game time for left-arm quick Dwarshius, were all standouts. Zampa, who hasn't missed a T20 international for 18 months, said it all pointed the team in the right direction ahead of the next World Cup in 2026 in India. 'We've been playing really good cricket; our World Cups haven't gone to plan the last couple, but there's a lot of new guys, new faces and new roles, so getting ready for whatever pops up in that T20 World Cup. It's all (about) the build up to that,' he said. 'I've seen a transition in the way that T20 is played in particular and the depth that we've got. 'Guys like Mitch Owen, (have) a lot of power (and there's) a lot of dynamic players through the middle, guys that can hit it out of the ground. 'That's just the way T20 is going and it's the way that we're playing our game as well and it's really exciting.' SPINNER JOINS 100 CLUB Zampa became the fourth Australian, but first bowler, to play 100 T20 internationals, joining Maxwell (120), David Warner (110) and Aaron Finch (103), and is his country's most prolific wicket-taker in the format with 124 wickets. He's also played 100 ODIs and his combined 221 white-ball appearances puts him in the same company as Aussie bowling greats Glenn McGrath (250 ODIs and two T20Is) and Brett Lee (221 ODIs and 25 T20Is). 'A proud moment to play 100 T20 internationals, not many of us have done it,' Zampa said. 'I've played a lot more than I thought I would … it's a nice achievement, it goes to show the longevity and I've just tried to make this spot mine. 'I love playing for Australia and I've always tried to put that first. I've always made sure that I'm tip-top for these games, it's something I pride myself on.'
CNA
3 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Australia sweep T20 series against West Indies
Australia completed a 5-0 sweep of the West Indies in their Twenty20 international series with Ben Dwarshuis's bowling paving the way for a three-wicket victory in Basseterre, Saint Kitts on Monday. Mitchell Owen top-scored for Australia with 37 off 17 balls, while Cameron Green (32), Tim David (30) and Aaron Hardie (28 nout out) all made valuable contributions as the visitors reached their target of 171 with 18 balls to spare. The win sealed the first T20 series sweep by an Australian men's team in the West Indies, and saw them end the tour with a perfect 8-0 record after a similar sweep in the three-test series. "I didn't expect 5-0 at the start of the series," Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said. "But we played some great cricket. It was something we spoke about after the fourth game. "We knew no Australian team had completed a clean sweep. We've had guys come in and played different roles for us." The match featured 15 sixes, which Marsh attributed to the size of the venue. "I think it's a small ground, so there's always going to be more sixes than normal," he said. "But I think if you look down our batting order in all the five games, we had a lot of power and I guess the messaging was just to play their natural game." Marsh also lauded the performance of his relatively inexperienced bowlers in the death overs. "I'm pretty sure in the last four overs, we didn't go for more than 40 or 50 across the five games," he said. "It's really hard to do. So I think all of them executed. Nathan Ellis was outstanding, Sean Abbott was brilliant. Ben Dwarshuis hasn't played a lot, did a really good role, and even Xavier Bartlett has grown and grown as a bowler." West Indies fans must have feared the worst when Australia won a fifth straight toss and bowled the hosts out for 170, a total they reached thanks in large part to Shimron Hetmyer's knock of 52 off 31 balls. Dwarshuis picked up Hetmyer's wicket as well as those of openers Brandon King (11) and Shai Hope (9). "It was a little bit of a slower wicket so we tried to hit the wicket hard and use the slower balls as well," said Dwarshuis, who was named player of the match.
The Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Historic T20 sweep: Australia crushes West Indies in Basseterre
A T20 'transition' is happening in real time and tracking towards World Cup success, according to spin star Adam Zampa, as Australia completed a first-ever 5-0 series clean sweep against the West Indies in Basseterre. In the absence of key fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, Ben Dwarshius and Nathan Ellis combined for five wickets to roll the home team for just 170 batting first in the final encounter. A golden duck to fill-in opener Glenn Maxwell as a part of a top-order collapse that reduced the tourists to 3-25 put the chase in jeopardy. But then Tim David smashed 30 runs off 12 balls and the powerful Australian middle order, including revelation Mitch Owen (37 off 16) and man of the series Cameron Green (32 off 17), pushed hard to set up the history-making, three-wicket win with three overs to spare. 'I didn't expect 5-0 at the start of the series,' captain Mitch Marsh said. 'But we played some great cricket. It was something we spoke about after the fourth game. We knew no Australian team had completed a clean sweep. Cameron Green continued to smash the West Indies attack. Picture: Randy Brooks / AFP 'We've had guys come in and played different roles for us. We spoke pre-tour about having flexibility and fluidity as a group. 'The way T20 is going teams just keep going now and it's exciting and hopefully we can continue our power hitting.' Owen and Green smashed 22 runs off the eighth over, the biggest haul of the game, with the duo and David combining for nine fours and seven sixes, including one Owen smashed out of the ground as the new power-hitting Aussies showed the way. 'I'm still trying to work T20 batting out. I had some great partnerships during the series,' said Green, who hopes to be back bowling soon. Playing in his 100th T20 international, becoming just the fourth Australian to reach the mark, Zampa said the team's rebuilding had taken a huge step in the West Indies. The emergence of Green in the batting order, debuts for Owen and spinner Matt Kuhnemann, as well as an increased presence from all-rounder Aaron Hardie and more game time for left-arm quick Dwarshius, were all standouts. Zampa, who hasn't missed a T20 international for 18 months, said it all pointed the team in the right direction ahead of the next World Cup in 2026 in India. 'We've been playing really good cricket; our World Cups haven't gone to plan the last couple, but there's a lot of new guys, new faces and new roles, so getting ready for whatever pops up in that T20 World Cup. It's all (about) the build up to that,' he said. Alzarri Joseph was bowled by Adam Zampa. Picture: Randy Brooks / AFP 'I've seen a transition in the way that T20 is played in particular and the depth that we've got. 'Guys like Mitch Owen, (have) a lot of power (and there's) a lot of dynamic players through the middle, guys that can hit it out of the ground. 'That's just the way T20 is going and it's the way that we're playing our game as well and it's really exciting.' SPINNER JOINS 100 CLUB Zampa became the fourth Australian, but first bowler, to play 100 T20 internationals, joining Maxwell (120), David Warner (110) and Aaron Finch (103), and is his country's most prolific wicket-taker in the format with 124 wickets. He's also played 100 ODIs and his combined 221 white-ball appearances puts him in the same company as Aussie bowling greats Glenn McGrath (250 ODIs and two T20Is) and Brett Lee (221 ODIs and 25 T20Is). 'A proud moment to play 100 T20 internationals, not many of us have done it,' Zampa said. Adam Zampa in his 100th T20 international for Australia. Picture: Randy Brooks / AFP 'I've played a lot more than I thought I would … it's a nice achievement, it goes to show the longevity and I've just tried to make this spot mine. 'I love playing for Australia and I've always tried to put that first. I've always made sure that I'm tip-top for these games, it's something I pride myself on.'
ABC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Australia beats West Indies in final T20I to complete dominant series victory in Carribean
Australia completed a 5–0 sweep of the West Indies in their Twenty20 international series with Ben Dwarshuis's bowling paving the way for a three-wicket victory in Basseterre, Saint Kitts on Monday. Mitchell Owen top-scored for Australia with 37 off 17 balls, while Cameron Green (32), Tim David (30) and Aaron Hardie (28 not out) all made valuable contributions as the visitors reached their target of 171 with 18 balls to spare. The win sealed the first T20 series sweep by an Australian men's team in the West Indies. "I didn't expect 5-0 at the start of the series," Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said. "But we played some great cricket. It was something we spoke about after the fourth game. "We knew no Australian team had completed a clean sweep. We've had guys come in and played different roles for us. "We spoke pre-tour about having flexibility and fluidity as a group. The way T20 is going, teams just keep going now, and it's exciting and hopefully we can continue our power-hitting." West Indies fans must have feared the worst when Australia won a fifth straight toss and bowled the hosts out for 170, a total they reached thanks in large part to Shimron Hetmyer's knock of 52 off 31 balls. Dwarshuis picked up Hetmyer's wicket as well as those of openers Brandon King (11) and Shai Hope (9). "It was a little bit of a slower wicket so we tried to hit the wicket hard and use the slower balls as well," said Dwarshuis, who was named player of the match. "It was definitely a challenge here with two batting line-ups that were ultra-aggressive and some high scores. "It was amazing to be part of this squad and this series victory." Australia return home for a limited-overs series against South Africa, while the West Indies play Pakistan in three T20Is and three one-day internationals. Reuters
