CWC 2019: AUS vs WI Review – Coulter-Nile and Starc take West Indies down
Mitchell Starc’s 5/46 and Nathan Coulter-Nile’s 92 shattered West Indies’ dream of rolling over the Australians. Chasing 289 runs at Trent Bridge, Shai Hope and Jason Holder were driving the Men in Maroon towards an easy win. Starc’s pace proved to be a lethal speed breaker and his five-for halted the Caribbean team 15 runs short of the target. Earlier Coulter-Nile’s record-breaking 92 had helped Australia post 288 after being 79/5 at one stage.
The 15-run triumph is now Australia’s 10th successive win in ODI cricket and second consecutive in this World Cup. West Indies, who looked confident of getting over the line, faltered in the late stage and lost too many wickets too quickly. Starc’s five-for left West Indies needing 32 runs off the last over and the game was very much out of their grasp. Here’s how the events unfolded in the 10th match of the 2019 World Cup.
West Indies revive the era of short bowling
In the opening match against Pakistan, the Caribbean speedsters bounced the Pakistani batsmen and wrapped them up inside 105 runs. The bowlers opted for the same modus operandi against Australians today. Oshane Thomas, Sheldon Cottrell and Andre Russell peppered the Yellow army with bouncers and yielded the same results that they enjoyed against Pakistan.
Thomas sent back the Australian captain Aaron Finch with a caught behind while David Warner’s was a soft dismissal. Russell dismissed Khawaja after the batsman stormed out to escape from the barrage of short deliveries. Glenn Maxwell skied the short ball from Cottrell and returned to the pavilion without a run. From 38/4, Steven Smith and Marcus Stoinis attempted to bring the innings back on the track but Jason Holder struck again to remove Stoinis. Australia was now reeling at 78/5.
Kangaroos wag their tail
With the world tottering around, Australia’s best batsman stood resolute. Taking Alex Carey for company, Steven Smith added 68 runs for the sixth wicket. Russell broke the stand, but a real surprise was in store for the West Indians. Nathan Coulter-Nile came out swinging and combining with Smith, the tail-ender added 103 runs in just 13.4 overs. Cottrell took a spectacular juggling catch to stop Smith (73) from getting a century.
Coulter-Nile kept going hammer and tongs at the other end and claimed the record of the highest score by a number eight batsman in the World Cup. He fell just short of an all-time record and his maiden century as Brathwaite dismissed him for 92(60 balls, 8×4, 4×6). With Brathwaite taking three quick wickets, Australia ended up at 288 in 49 overs.
Calming the Gayle storm
The biggest threat to Australia was undoubtedly the Universe Boss, Chris Gayle. He survived once as the ball kissed the stumps but did not dislodge the bails. Another LBW dismissal was reverted as Gayle correctly used the DRS. He then attacked the Australian bowling, but Starc trapped him with another inswinger. The 17-ball stay produced 21 runs with four boundaries. There was a hint of controversy as the ball before Gayle’s dismissal was a massive no-ball which the umpire failed to spot.
Hope and Holder keep the chase going
Two batsmen with Test cricket temperament, Shai Hope and Jason Holder, were the lynchpins in the 289-run chase. Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell and Carlos Brathwaite played their attacking brand of cricket but were not able to partner Hope and Holder for long. Hope fell for a well-made 68 but Holder continued the fight.
Needing 38 runs from 30 balls, West Indies were still the favourites going into the 46th over. Starc sprang into action and sent back Brathwaite and Holder in the same over. In his following over, he castled Sheldon Cottrell and effectively sealed the game for Aussies. Ashley Nurse struck a few consolation boundaries in the last over to lower the losing margin.
