In a captivating clash, Australia’s rising star, paceman Xavier Bartlett, marked his ODI debut with an outstanding four-wicket haul, steering his team towards bundling out the West Indies for 231. The thrilling encounter unfolded at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, featuring moments of brilliance and a missed century opportunity for West Indies’ Keacy Carty due to a run-out miscommunication.
Carty’s innings, brimming with promise, came to an abrupt end at 88 off 108 balls when a mix-up with his partner Hayden Walsh resulted in a run-out blunder. Bartlett’s dream debut continued as he showcased impeccable skills, claiming key wickets and finishing with remarkable figures of 4-17 from nine overs.
The debutant’s impact was evident early on, dismissing Justin Greaves with a stunning inswinger that toppled the off-stump. Alick Athanaze also fell victim to Bartlett’s prowess, caught behind for a mere five runs, solidifying the young paceman’s commendable figures of 2-1.
Bartlett’s swing and precision were on full display as he secured the crucial wicket of West Indies skipper Shai Hope, caught brilliantly by Matthew Short at first slip, concluding his spell with 3-8 in five overs.
The Windies found themselves in a precarious position at 59 for four in the 16th over, with Kavem Hodge’s departure intensifying their struggle against the Australian attack. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa further disrupted the West Indies’ momentum by breaking a promising 110-run partnership, dismissing Roston Chase for 59 off 67 balls.
As Carty approached a potential century, a regrettable misjudgment by Walsh led to an unnecessary run-out, leaving the batsman visibly frustrated and 12 runs short of his milestone.
Australia, under the captaincy of Steve Smith, dictated the game’s pace, ultimately dismissing the West Indies with eight balls to spare, setting the stage for an enthralling ODI series.
