A magnificent partnership between Jason Holder and Nicholas Pooran carried West Indies to a spectacular win in the second CG Insurance T20 International on Saturday night.
Holder made 52 on his home soil with a number of stunning shots – including a massive pull over square leg for six.
Pooran saw the team to victory and ended on 59 not out – which included two huge sixes off spinner Ashton Turner – the first which cleared the boundary at the Malcolm Marshall End and the second which sailed over extra-cover and way beyond the boundary rope.
In the process the left-hander became the third fastest West Indian in history to reach 1,000 runs in ODI cricket in his 27th innings. The home side made 191-6 off 38 overs to win with 72 balls to spare and level the series 1 -1. This has set up a series-decider on Monday from 14:30h at the same venue.
The pair came together with the home side on 72-5 in the 15th over and added 93 in 20 overs to dominate the contest after Australia were bowled out for 189. The match ended in sensational fashion when Alzarri Joseph hoisted a flighted delivery from Turner over square leg for the winning boundary.
Earlier, Australia were in dire straits at 45-6 when left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein bowled a penetrative spell of 10-0-30-3. He triggered the slide when he had Moises Henriques caught at slip by Jason Holder, then cleaned bowled left-hander Alex Carey and Turner which perfectly pithed deliveries.
Joseph was also on the ball and had excellent figures of 8.1-0-39-3, including Wes Agar, who topscored with 41 before he was last man out. (windiescricket)