The scorecard can be found at cricclubs.com, under Cricket West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA)
The fourth match for Australia in the BMC Caribbean Cup 2023 against the West Indies turned out to be exciting and close-fought. Australia won the toss and chose to bowl on a pitch that had a little moisture in it from the overnight rain, delaying the start by 30 minutes. By the 10th over D’Mello had removed both openers with the score only on 20 runs. Spin from Riley (9 overs, 3/29) and O’Reilly (6 overs, 3/19) accounted for most of the remaining wickets, with anoth
er by O’Reilly deflecting a return drive that cannoned into the stumps, dismissing the well-set Bruce (26 off 55.) Sieuchan was the pick of the Windies batsmen, with 35 off 60 balls. The West Indies ended up on 144 runs in the allotted 45 overs.
In reply Australia found the initial conditions a little difficult, with the openers falling in the fourth and 14th overs. At the first drinks break (15 overs) the runs and wickets were almost identical to the Windies at 2/32, with O’Reilly batting confidently. Wickets fell reasonably regularly up to the 34th over, at which time the scoreboard read 6/93. Australia needed 52 runs in 11 overs, and the Windies needed 4 wickets. Richardson and Miller then steadied the ship, until Richardson (31 off 60) was run out at the non-striker’s end, with the score at 125 near the end of the 41st over. Miller and Thornton chipped away at the target, the excitement building, with 9 runs required off the last two overs. Tensions were eased for Australia in the 44th, withe 5 runs off the bat, and 2 crucial wides, leaving only 2 runs required in the last over. Thornton slammed the first ball of the final over into the outfield, and the batsmen completed the required 2 runs comfortably giving Australia victory by 3 wickets with 5 balls to spare.
The Windies chose Peter O’Reilly as their pick for man-of-the-match with his 25 runs and 3 wickets, and in return Australia nominated Richard Sieuchan for his 35 runs.
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