MAXWELL’s RECORD-BREAKING CENTURY PROPELS AUSTRALIA TO SERIES VICTORY
Glenn Maxwell blazed his way to an unbeaten 120 off just 55 balls, equalling the record for the most centuries in T20Is alongside Rohit Sharma.
His remarkable innings powered Australia to a commanding victory over West Indies by 34 runs in the second T20I at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday (February 11).
Maxwell’s heroics also propelled Australia to their highest-ever T20I total on home soil.
Despite West Indies’ efforts, losing early wickets hindered their chase significantly.
Rovman Powell contributed 63 runs off 36 balls, while Andre Russell (37 off 16) and Jason Holder (28* off 16) put up a fight, but it wasn’t enough to bridge the gap as Australia emerged victorious.
AUSTRALIA HAD A TUMULTUOUS START TO THEIR CAMPAIGN
At the outset, Australia encountered a rocky beginning when they were put into bat, with Josh Inglis departing early after a tentative start to his innings.
Nevertheless, skipper Mitchell Marsh injected aggression into the innings with a blazing cameo, sparking momentum.
While David Warner supported his captain, the partnership was short-lived as both batsmen were dismissed within eight deliveries, offering West Indies a moment of relief.
THE BIG SHOW DELIVERS YET ANOTHER SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE, DAZZLING THE AUDIENCE ONCE AGAIN
On a batting-friendly pitch with short square boundaries, the fireworks were just beginning.
Maxwell took a brief moment to settle in before accelerating into top gear.
His dominance was so pronounced that out of the 82-run partnership with Marcus Stoinis, Stoinis only contributed 16 runs.
Tim David (31* off 14) then joined Maxwell for an unbeaten 95-run partnership, propelling Australia to a formidable total.
Maxwell exhibited his entire repertoire of trademark strokes – from elegant lofts over cover to deft slices over backward point, interspersed with occasional switch-hits and reverse sweeps.
One particularly audacious reverse-pull against Akeal Hosain stood out as the most jaw-dropping shot of the innings.
WEST INDIES STUMBLE OUT OF THE GATE
West Indies’ hopes of staying competitive rested on executing a near-flawless run chase, but that aspiration quickly evaporated.
Johnson Charles and Nicholas Pooran provided promising starts following Brandon King’s early exit, yet their dismissals, along with that of Shai Hope, within the powerplay only reinforced Australia’s control.
As the game progressed, it became solely about the margin of victory, with West Indies facing an uphill battle to come anywhere near their target.
Despite the challenging batting conditions and boundary dimensions, their chances were exceedingly slim.
POWELL AND RUSSELL BRIEFLY ENTERTAIN, AIMING TO CONTROL THE DAMAGE
Powell and Russell unleashed their power-hitting prowess with some ferocious strokes, yet the monumental target proved insurmountable even for their remarkable skills.
Despite their valiant efforts, along with Holder’s late cameo, their contributions made the match appear closer than it truly was.
Australia’s bowlers effectively contained the West Indian batters, directing them to hit down the ground where the boundaries were longer, rather than exploiting the short square boundaries.
The bowling unit collectively performed admirably, with Marcus Stoinis emerging as the most effective wicket-taker among them.
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