3 minute read
Australia have lost the fifth and final T20 cricket international against the West Indies in St Lucia by 16 runs to go down 4-1 in the series.
The outstanding form of Mitch Marsh proved a rare ray of sunshine for Australia who were left with lots to consider following a crushing 4-1 T20 cricket series loss to the West Indies.
The visitors suffered a 16-run defeat in the final match of the five-match series in St Lucia on Saturday (AEST), with captain Aaron Finch twisting a knee while fielding.
He will have it checked out prior to the first of three one-day internationals between the two teams in Barbados on Wednesday (AEST).
The West Indies smashed 8-199 in game five - the highest score of the series - clouting 17 sixes with opener Evin Lewis (79 off 34 balls) belting nine of them.
Australia were up with the required run rate at the halfway point, but lost wickets at regular intervals, finishing at 9-183.
Four Australians got a start over 20 with Finch (34 off 23) and Marsh (30 off 15) leading the way,
But the absence of a substantial innings and some brilliant fielding by the hosts proved too much for Australia, who lacked batting depth as their line-up contained five specialist bowlers.
Reflecting on Australia's performance over the series Finch was surprisingly upbeat.
"I feel as though we've got some more information," he said.
"Plenty of positives to take away and plenty of stuff to think about and stew over and improve on."
West Indies finished with a massive 58 to 26 lead in sixes struck over the series, with the absence of Dave Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis keenly felt.
Australia's middle-order struggled with no one below No.3 scoring more than 33 in an innings
Marsh was clearly Australia's standout player, scoring the most runs (212) of any batsmen on either side, notching his first three T20I fifties and only once being dismissed below 30.
The West Australian also excelled with the ball, utilising good changes of pace to finish with a team-high eight wickets at a good economy rate of 6.76, with only West Indies legspinner and player of the series, Hayden Walsh Jr bagging more victims with 12 scalps.
"MItch Marsh obviously stood out, his first opportunity at number three (he scored) consistently and the role he did with the ball." Finch said.
"This game we were staring down the barrel of 220, 230 maybe more at one point, so to drag it back was really impressive."
The West Indies brought up their 100 inside eight overs, with opening bowler Jason Behrendorff on the end of some brutal treatment, going for 46 off three overs.
Josh Hazlewood (0-32 off four), AJ Tye (3-37 of four), Adam Zampa (2-30 off 4) and Marsh (2-12 off two) all stemmed the flow.
Australia lost Josh Philippe in the first over for a duck, ending a lean series for him in which he scored 14 runs at an average of under five.
