Australia Survive Scare to Clinch Tense Win, Seal 4-0 Lead Over West Indies

 

Australia edged past West Indies in a gripping fourth T20I at Warner Park, surviving late-order jitters to secure a nervy three-wicket victory and take a commanding 4-0 lead in the five-match series.

After the visitors elected to bowl first, the Windies posted 205 for nine—built on sporadic resistance but undone by consistent Aussie pressure in the second half of their innings. Australia’s bowlers shared the spoils with sharp fielding and timely breakthroughs keeping the Caribbean side from fully capitalising on their start.

Despite the modest target, Australia’s chase was anything but smooth.

Cameron Green was the standout with a composed half-century off 35 balls, featuring three sixes and three fours, while Josh Inglis lit up the powerplay with a blistering 51 off just 30 deliveries, including 10 boundaries and a six. Glenn Maxwell added fireworks of his own, smashing 47 from only 18 balls with six towering sixes and a four.

However, the chase turned chaotic after Maxwell fell immediately after the drinks break—caught by Jason Holder off Akeal Hosein. It triggered a mini-collapse.

Young pacer Jediah Blades impressed with a fiery spell, removing Mitchell Marsh for a second-ball duck and later dismantling the middle order by dismissing Mitchell Owen (2) and Cooper Connolly (0) in quick succession. Romario Shepherd and Holder chipped in with crucial wickets, the latter removing Aaron Hardie for 23 with a well-judged catch by Shimron Hetmyer.

At 204 for seven, with just two runs needed, a wayward drive by Green ricocheted off Shepherd’s fingertips and ran out Xavier Bartlett backing up, adding to the drama. Green, unflustered, knocked the required runs in the next two balls, and Sean Abbott calmly sealed the win with four deliveries to spare.

Impressive Aussie Fielding Dents West Indies Momentum

Earlier, West Indies failed to build a commanding innings, with no batter crossing 31 runs. Australia’s fielding was electric—Maxwell led the effort with two exceptional grabs and a clever assist near the boundary to help dismiss Shepherd.

Bartlett dismissed opener Brandon King for 18 and later removed Shai Hope for 10, thanks to Maxwell's diving effort at mid-on. Maxwell then pulled off a stunning one-handed catch to send Roston Chase back for a duck. Rutherford top-scored with 31 before falling to Zampa, while Owen’s brilliant diving catch ousted Hetmyer for 16.

Green contributed in the field as well, with catches to dismiss both Shepherd and Matthew Forde. Despite rain interrupting play with just four balls left, West Indies added two more runs post-delay to finish at 205/9.

Australia now eye a 5-0 whitewash as they head into Monday’s final encounter.