2nd ODI, Sydney, February 04, 2024, 09:00 AM
Australia
258/9(50.0ov)
West Indies
175/10(43.3ov)
Australia beat West Indies by 83 runs
That is all from this game. Australia wrap the series comfortably. Time for the final ODI, join us on the 6th of this month at 9 am (3.30 am GMT) and earlier for the build-up. For now, it is goodbye!
Steven Smith says the Windies bowled well on a tricky surface but the lower-batting order did well to get some partnerships and get to a par total. Adds Jake Fraser-McGurk enjoyed himself on top, the other players too played well. Reckons they are looking forward to the next game.
Shai Hope says the bowlers did well and gave a good chance to win the match. Adds it was a challenging wicket to play, The Aussies did a commendable job with the ball, they didn't bat freely and could have done a lot better.
Sean Abbott, the Player of the Match for his all-round performance. He says he found himself in a difficult situation but he knew 220 was a good total and just needed one partnership. Adds it is a really good group to be around and the environment is superb as well. Reckons he keeps working hard and waits for the opportunity and says, it is an absolute pleasure to play for Australia.
...Presentation time...
In reply, we felt West Indies would take the game deep but they kept losing wickets. Steven Smith shuffled his seamers and all of them took a wicket at least. The middle order did come to the rescue. Shai Hope, Keacy Carty and Roston Chase, all got off to a start but failed to convert into a big one. Chase was the last known batter out there but kept on losing wickets and in the end, it got too big of a mission for him. We feel, West Indies could have done better when Australia were 91//5 but allowed the lower-order to run away with the game. West Indies lacked match experience against a quality Aussie side.
Australia win the first ODI battle after becoming the world champions. Despite missing so many first-team players, they looked pretty comfortable in both matches. West Indies won the toss and chose to bowl. They did well up front as they took three wickets inside 50 runs. Australia needed a big partnership but kept on losing wickets regularly. The stand did come though later on as Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott and Matthew Short played valuable innings to get Australia to a moderate total. Sean Abbott's fifty turned out to be a match-winning one in the end.
In over# 44
0W
0
0
Adam Zampa 31/1(9.3)
43.3
W
OUT! LBW! THREE REDS! That will do! Flatter and on leg. Motie goes for a big swipe across the line but misses and gets hit on the pads. An appeal and up goes the finger. Gudakesh Motie takes it upstairs in hope but gets nothing out of it. Three reds and Australia seal the series.
43.2
.
Flatter and outside off, Motie pulls it straight to mid on.
43.1
.
On middle, this is blocked out.
In over# 43
4
0
0
0
2
0
Sean Abbott 40/3(10)
42.6
4
FOUR! SHOT! This is full and angling on off. Oshane Thomas swings and hits it over long on for a boundary. Not a perfect ending but still an excellent spell from Sean Abbott.
42.5
.
A yorker, tailing on leg, Oshane Thomas does well to block it out.
42.4
.
Angling on middle, tucked to mid-wicket.
42.3
.
Shorter and on middle, this is pulled to mid-wicket.
42.2
2
This is full and outside off, Oshane Thomas drives on the up and to covers for a couple.
42.1
.
Length ball, outside off, Oshane Thomas punches it to cover.
In over# 42
0
0
0
1
1b
0
Adam Zampa 31/0(9)