Australia in West Indies, 5 T20I Series, 2025 |3rd T20I |7/25/2025 Warner Park, Basseterre
Commentary
Right then, the fate of the series has been sealed, and Australia continue to remain unbeaten on this Caribbean sojourn. West Indies now have pride to play for as they look to end the series on a high and ideally win the remaining two games. The fourth T20I will take place here at Warner Park in Basseterre in less than 24 hours, on Saturday, 26th July at 11 pm GMT. As always, you can join us early for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!
The skipper of Australia, Mitchell Marsh, describes the series win as really special, especially with a young team where players are getting opportunities to shine. He is pleased with the 3-0 lead after three games. Marsh mentions that the team is exploring different options by giving players chances in various positions. He praises the team's collective performance, highlighting their excellent execution with the ball, particularly in the later stages of the game. Marsh is particularly impressed with Tim David's outstanding innings, which left him speechless.
The captain of West Indies, Shai Hope feels that they were a few runs short with the bat and credits Australia for their disciplined death bowling. He mentions that it's something the West Indies need to revisit, especially with the ball in hand. Hope shares that the team needs to execute their plans better and make it a lot more difficult for batters to score freely. He acknowledges that they are aware of where they are falling short, but stresses the importance of stepping up in those key moments.
Tim David is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his breathtaking ton. Tim says that he was just having a great time out in the middle, playing for the Australian team. He appreciates every opportunity to play and is grateful for the chance to score a hundred for Australia, which he hadn't expected. David credits the good pitch and strong breeze for allowing him to back his strengths and attack the bowlers. After nursing a niggle, he is happy to have a break at home to get his body right before seizing the opportunity to shine on the field. With his power-hitting skills already well-developed, David is now focusing on improving his shot selection to make the right decisions at the right time and maximise his chances of making big scores. He also jokingly thanks Dre Russ for his bat and feels it suited his game perfectly.
Time for the presentation ceremony...
Earlier, West Indies were put into bat for the third straight game, and Shai Hope, along with Brandon King, gave them an ideal start with a 125-run opening stand. Australia overpitched too often and paid the price. King fell for 62, and although Hope brought up his maiden T20I century, the innings lost steam in the final six overs. Nathan Ellis led Australia’s late fightback as West Indies, after scoring 156 in the first 14 overs, managed only 58 in the last six with Hope facing just 12 of the final 36 balls.
71 runs came off those three overs of spin, and that pretty much sealed the fate of the game. One could argue and rightly so, that Romario Shepherd should have been brought back into the attack earlier, especially considering he was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies before Tim David’s onslaught. David stitched together a 128-run stand with Mitchell Owen that took Australia over the line, breaking records along the way. He first smashed the fastest fifty for Australia in T20Is in just 16 balls and then went on to rewrite the record books again, bringing up the fastest T20I century for Australia in just 37 deliveries.
At the halfway mark, it felt like West Indies had left some runs on the table, and Australia came out blazing, racing to 30 in just 2 overs. From there, both sides traded blows. The Aussies kept up with the required rate, while the Windies kept chipping away at the wickets. At 87/4, another wicket or two from there would have really made it difficult for the visitors, but up stepped Tim David. He took a real liking to the spinners and took the wind out of the home side's sails.
Signed, sealed, and delivered! Australia have wrapped up the series with two games to go. The last time they toured the Caribbean for a T20I series, they were handed a 4-1 defeat, but this time, they have flipped the script. It is a real concern for West Indies, who have now won just 3 of their last 17 completed T20Is. Their bowling lacked bite, and much like the first game, their finish with the bat once again left plenty to be desired.
16.1
4
Romario Shepherd to Tim David, FOUR! MAIDEN T20I CENTURY FOR DAVID! The onslaught from Tim David helps Australia win the 3rd T20I by 6 wickets and they now gain an unassailable lead of 3-0 in this 5-match series. This was a fuller one, on the pads. Tim David flicks this off the pads towards the fine leg region for four to wrap this game.
END OF OVER 16 | 19 Runs & 0 Wkt | AUS 211/4
15.6
6
Jediah Blades to Mitchell Owen, SIX! Back of a length around middle and off. Mitchell Owen pulls this off the front foot. The ball does just enough to travel to the fence. Rovman Powell, at long on, backpedals and holds onto this. RP just couldn't stop the body momentum going backwards and he ends up stepping over the ropes. Rovman Powell signals six.
A halt in play as there is a lighting issue with one of the bails.
15.5
1
Jediah Blades to Tim David, Full toss on off, Tim David thumps this down to long off for one.
15.4
4
Jediah Blades to Tim David, FOUR! Back of a length around middle and off. Tim David flat bats this down the ground and the ball wins the race to the fence before Rovman Powell could field this.
15.3
0
Jediah Blades to Tim David, Yorker on middle and leg. Tim David pushes this back to the bowler for a dot.
15.2
1
Jediah Blades to Mitchell Owen, Short-pitched again, around middle and leg. Owen smashes this flat and hard towards deep mid-wicket region for one.
15.2
1wd
Jediah Blades to Mitchell Owen, WIDE! Full and way too wide outside off. Mitchell Owen leaves it. Wided.
15.1
6
Jediah Blades to Mitchell Owen, SIX! It keeps getting better and better and better for the Aussies. Short-pitched, on middle and leg. Mitchell Owen pulls this right out of the middle of his bat and clears the fence over the deep square leg fielder for six runs.
END OF OVER 15 | 8 Runs & 0 Wkt | AUS 192/4
14.6
1
Jason Holder to Mitchell Owen, Low full toss, on off, Owen drills it to long off and takes a single.
14.5
4
Jason Holder to Mitchell Owen, FOUR! Not where he intended but Mitchell Owen will take it! Pace off and into the wicket, wide on off, Owen flays at the delivery and gets an outside edge that flies over short third for a boundary.
14.4
1
Jason Holder to Tim David, Full and going away, David smashes it down to long off for a single. The 100-run stand comes up between these two batters, out of which Ian Bishop informs that Mitchell Owen has contribueted only 18.
14.3
1
Jason Holder to Mitchell Owen, Full and around off, Owen slices it towards deep cover. Brandon King runs in off the ropes and collects it on the bounce.
14.2
0
Jason Holder to Mitchell Owen, Gets the yorker in, outside off, Owen digs it out down the deck.