West Indies v Australia - fourth T20 scorecard

The latest scorecard from the fourth Twenty20 international between West Indies and Australia in St Kitts tells a tale of shifting momentum and a thrilling contest, ultimately seeing the home side clinch a crucial victory to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. Played under the lights at Warner Park, the match delivered on its promise of high-octane cricket, with both batting and bowling units having their moments of dominance before the West Indies ultimately proved too strong in the decisive moments.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the West Indies innings got off to a blistering start, primarily thanks to a scintillating opening stand between Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer. Lewis, in particular, was in destructive form, dispatching the Australian quicks to all parts of the ground and racing to a rapid half-century. While Hetmyer played a crucial supporting role, his dismissal in the seventh over brought Nicholas Pooran to the crease, who continued the aggressive approach. The middle overs saw Australia's spinners, led by Adam Zampa, apply some much-needed pressure, picking up key wickets and slowing the scoring rate. However, a late surge from captain Kieron Pollard, who smashed 35 off just 15 balls, ensured the West Indies posted a formidable total of 189 for 6, a score that looked challenging on a pitch that offered some assistance to the bowlers. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were the pick of the Australian pacers, each snagging two wickets but conceding runs at a fair clip.

Australia's chase began with intent, Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade looking to replicate the West Indies' fast start. They managed to navigate the powerplay without losing a wicket, putting on 58 runs and setting a solid platform. However, the introduction of West Indies' spinners, Hayden Walsh Jr. and Akeal Hosein, turned the tide dramatically. Walsh, continuing his impressive form, ripped through the Australian middle order, claiming three vital wickets including those of Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh, who had threatened to take the game away. Australia found themselves reeling at 120 for 6 in the 15th over, with the required run rate climbing steeply. Despite a valiant effort from Ashton Agar in the death overs, his quickfire 28 not out wasn't enough to bridge the gap. The West Indies bowlers held their nerve, executing their plans meticulously in the final overs, restricting Australia to 175 for 8 and securing a 14-run victory.

This comprehensive scorecard paints a picture of a West Indies side growing in confidence and cohesion, particularly with their balanced attack and explosive batting. The series victory, secured with one match still to play, is a significant statement of intent from the reigning T20 World Champions as they fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming global tournament. For Australia, while individual performances showed flashes of brilliance, the inability to build sustained partnerships and counter the spin threat proved costly. The final match in the series now offers them an opportunity to salvage some pride and fine-tune their own combinations before the focus shifts to other challenges.