Mc Coy inspires West Indies to series lead

AN INSPIRING BOWLING performance from Vincentian left-arm fast bowler Obed Mc Coy, on Friday night, provided the impetus for a West Indies win over Australia in the first of the five-match T/20 series.

Making his variations count, the 24-year-old Mc Coy grabbed 4 for 26, as West Indies won by 18 runs at the Daren Sammy Cricket Stadium in St Lucia.

Mc Coy, who was in his ninth straight T/20 international for the West Indies, got a wicket in the first ball of his spell, but then went for 17 runs in that same over.

However, he bounced back to take the other three for a mere nine runs. His man of the match efforts dragged back the Australians’ response, as they were at 107 for 4 in the 11th over, in search of 146.

Mc Coy’s figures, aided by Hayden Walsh Jr.’s 3 for 23, and Fabian Allen’s 2 for 24, engineered Australia’s batting implosion. Australia were dismissed for 127 in 16 overs.

Mitchell Marsh, who hit 51 and Matthew Wade, 33, were Australia’s main scorers with the bat.

Sent in to bat, West Indies posted an under- par 145 for 6 from their 20 overs. Andre Russell smashed his first T/20 international half-century, stroking a 28-ball 51, which included 3 fours and 5 sixes. Lendl Simmons, who scored 27 and Shimron Hetymer, 20, were the other main contributors.

Bowling for Australia, Josh Hazlewood grabbed 3 for 12 from his 4 overs and Mitchell Marsh picked up 2 for 26.

Then on Saturday night at the same venue, the West Indies turned it up a notch in all departments, to win by 56 runs. West Indies, though, made two changes to the starting XI, as Mc Coy and Evin Lewis were rested in favour of Sheldon Cottrell and Andre Fletcher.

Again, sent into bat, West Indies batting were more assured than in Friday’s opening match, creaming 196 for 4 from their 20 overs.

Lendl Simmons set the platform with 30 at the top of the order, but a 103-run partnership between Hetymer and Dwayne Bravo, bolstered the West Indies in the middle overs. Hetymer struck 2 fours and 4 sixes in his 36 ball 61.

Bravo, promoted ahead of Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran, scored 47 not out.

The efforts of Hetymer and Bravo left Russell to polish off the innings with 24 not out from 8 balls.

Russell blasted 2 fours and 2 sixes in his cameo.

In reply, Australia’s batting never got a chance to ignite, as the West Indies bowling unit was workmanlike. Walsh Jr. continued his good form from the previous night, taking 3 for 29 and along with Sheldon Cottrell (2 for 22) undermined Australia’s batting, dismissing them for 140 from 19.2 overs.

Mitchell Marsh was Australia’s topscorer with 54.

The two teams were set to meet last night (Monday) in match three, also at the Daren Sammy Stadium.

Match four is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, while match five takes place on Friday.