Their marketing campaign again on monitor after drubbing Bangladesh of their earlier sport, Australia can not afford slip-up in opposition to an unpredictable West Indies of their closing Tremendous 12 match as they appear to seal a semifinal spot within the T20 World Cup right here on Saturday. After shedding to arch-rivals England final Saturday, Australia bounced again with a report eight-wicket win over Bangladesh on Thursday which boosted their web run price from -0.627 to +1.031. Nonetheless, a win will not be sufficient for the Aaron Finch-led aspect to guide a last-four berth if the Proteas handle to beat the Englishmen by a margin that might higher their NRR than Australia’s in Saturday’s one other Group 1 match in Sharjah.
If fortunate, a loss in opposition to West Indies nonetheless might hand Australia a semi-final spot as Group 1 runners-up if England make it 5 out of 5, beating South Africa. So, there’s loads at stake for each Australia and South Africa. Australia are at the moment occupying the second spot forward of the Proteas by advantage of higher NRR within the Group 1 desk. Dealing with such an unsure situation, the Australians can not afford to be complacent. Furthermore, a bruised and battered Caribbeans, who’re the defending champions, would look to salvage some pleasure and bow out of the showpiece with a win.
Australia, the 2010 runners-up, had made their final semi-final look in 2012 after they have been eradicated by the eventual champions West Indies. The 2-time defending champions West Indies aspect didn’t dwell as much as their fame as they relied closely on their ageing stars like Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard.
From crashing to 55 all out of their group opener in opposition to England to faltering in opposition to Sri Lanka on Thursday that despatched them out of reckoning for a semifinal spot, it simply didn’t work out for West Indies. Australia, however, are starting to peak on the proper time of their bid to win their solely lacking title. Their bowling assault got here to the fore of their eight-wicket win over Bangladesh that got here with 82 balls to spare — the best T20I win between two Full Member groups.
Whereas the tempo duo of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc gave the opening blows, leg spinner Adam Zampa polished off the tail en path to a career-best 5/19. Even Glenn Maxwell (2-0-6-1) was tidy together with his part-time off-spin and the group would solely hope that he begins firing together with his bat additionally. Their inconsistent top-order additionally bought some enhance with the return of Mitchell Marsh at No 3. Marsh blasted 16 not out off 5 balls, together with a six in opposition to Taskin Ahmed, to seal the difficulty after skipper Finch laid the inspiration with a 40.They might hope that the likes of David Warner and Maxwell get into the groove in opposition to the misfiring Windies as they could follow an unchanged XI.
Australia Squad: Aaron Finch (c), Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Swepson.
West Indies Squad: Kieron Pollard (c), Nicholas Pooran, Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Roston Chase, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Jason Holder, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr.
