By: Tarish Bhatt
Australia continued their domination and registered a clinical win over West Indies in the triseries final. The world champions defeated the hosts by 58 runs to lift the cup at the Kensington Oval.
Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh set up the victory for Australia. Wade helped the champions in reaching to a competitive total, while Hazlewood and Marsh delivered with the ball.
Johnson Charles and Denesh Ramdin led the Windies resistance. But, they both failed to covert starts into a big total. The West Indies team eventually bundled inside 46 overs in Barbados.
“I don’t think we played our best cricket in this tournament. So we still have some work to do to get where we want to be,” Steve Smith said. “Barbados is a great part of the world, it’s been a great way to end the trip.”
Earlier, Australia elected to bat first, and managed to post 270 on the board. Captain Smith and Wade played a pivotal roles in taking the visitors to a total, which looked competitive.
Wade, in particular, made a telling contribution and finished with an unbeaten fifty. He not only anchored one end, but also stitched useful partnerships with the lower-order.
The chase was always going to be difficult. It became tougher when the Windies were reduced to 72/4. Australia turned on the screws and eventually bundled them for just 212.
Hazlewood was the wrecker-in-chief and finished with a fifer. Marsh, meanwhile, ripped through West Indies top-order and ended with three wickets. Nathan Coulter-Nile and Adam Zampa finished with a wicket each.
