Australia Completes T20 Series Sweep Against West Indies

Australia secured a decisive victory over the West Indies in the fifth T20 International, held on March 11, 2024, in Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis, achieving a clean sweep of the series with a 5-0 record. Ben Dwarshuis was instrumental in this triumph, taking three wickets, including the pivotal dismissal of top-scorer Shimron Hetmyer. Chasing a target of 171 runs, Australia overcame early setbacks to finish at 173-7, winning with three overs remaining.

Facing a modest total, Australia found itself in a precarious position at 25-3 and later 60-4. However, the middle-order batsmen demonstrated resilience, with Cameron Green contributing 32 runs and Mitchell Owen scoring 37. Tim David made a significant impact, blasting 30 runs off just 12 balls, featuring four sixes and a four. Despite the West Indies’ hopes of a consolation victory when Australia was at 141-6, Aaron Hardie’s composed innings of an unbeaten 28 ensured a three-wicket win for the visitors.

Key Performances Highlight Australia’s Dominance

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “I didn’t expect 5-0 at the start of the series. But we played some great cricket.” His counterpart, West Indies captain Shai Hope, acknowledged the shortcomings in his team’s batting: “We never put together a proper batting display. We either started well or finished poorly, or the other way round. Against a quality team, you can’t get away with that.”

The West Indies struggled early in their innings after Marsh won the toss and elected to bat. Dwarshuis set the tone for Australia’s bowling attack, dismissing opener Brandon King for 11 runs and Shai Hope for just nine, which left the hosts reeling at 22-2 within four overs. The situation worsened for the West Indies as they slumped to 64-4, but Hetmyer’s aggressive half-century, comprising three fours and three sixes, provided a glimmer of hope.

Dwarshuis returned to claim the crucial wicket of Hetmyer, who departed for 52 runs off 31 balls, leaving the West Indies at 155-7 in the 17th over. Reflecting on his performance, Dwarshuis remarked, “It was a little bit of a slower wicket, so we tried to hit the wicket hard and use the slower balls as well.” His efforts earned him the title of player of the match.

A Complete Tour Sweep

This victory marked a significant achievement for Australia, as they also triumphed in the three-Test series leading up to the T20 matches. Completing an impressive clean sweep, Australia has now won all eight matches on this tour, reinforcing their status as a formidable team in international cricket.

The series showcased Australia’s depth and capability, particularly in challenging situations, while the West Indies will need to reassess their strategies moving forward.