West Indies vs Australia – 5th T20 International Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is West Indies vs Australia taking place? Saturday, July 17th, 2021 – 00:30 (UK)
Where is West Indies vs Australia taking place? Daren Sammy National Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
What is the expected weather for West Indies vs Australia? 27-28c with clear skies and a gentle breeze
What channel is West Indies vs Australia on? The match will be televised live on BT Sport in the UK
Where can I stream West Indies vs Australia? BT Sport subscribers will be able to stream the match live via the BT Sport website and app
LAST MEETING
Australia beat West Indies by 4 runs.
THE TEAM NEWS
WEST INDIES
- West Indies fell to their first defeat of the five-match T20i series vs Australia last time out, narrowly failing to chase down a target of 190, losing by just four runs in an exciting contest.
- Leg-spin bowler Hayden Walsh shone with the ball, picking up three wickets for just 27 runs from his four overs, before opener Lendl Simmons led the West Indian charge with the bat, hitting 72 runs from 48 balls in what turned out to be a losing effort despite some late six hitting from Andre Russell and Fabian Allen.
- Captain Kieron Pollard remains absent through injury, whilst both batter Shimron Hetmyer and left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy will be rested for the second successive T20i.
AUSTRALIA
- After three straight defeats, Australia have finally gained their first victory of the tour, although it has come too late for them to save the T20i series, as West Indies lead 3-1 with just this final game to play.
- By far Australia’s best all-round batting display of the series so far saw them rack up 189/6 with captain Aaron Finch hitting a half century to support the in-form Mitchell Marsh, who continued his excellent recent run of scores with 75 from just 44 deliveries.
- Marsh also shone with the ball, taking three wickets whilst leg-spin bowler Adam Zampa recorded 2-20 from his four overs and after an encouraging victory it would be a surprise if Australia make any changes heading into this fifth and final T20i.
THE PREDICTION
Batting had been Australia’s kryptonite throughout the entirety of this T20i series so far and will have given the tourists great encouragement to finally put a good score on the board and also defend it successfully. However, the West Indies will no doubt be looking to answer back in the final match, with the bowlers in particular looking to improve from an disciplinary perspective having conceded eight wides in the fourth T20i. Providing the Windies bowling attack can tighten up and bowl straighter to the Australian batters, then they should find more success here and when taking into account the quality of the hosts’ top order batting even without Hetmyer and Pollard, the expectation is that West Indies will bounce back and secure a fourth win of the series.
