Cricket 2023: Australia easily wins first T20 International versus West Indies

Australia promised a change of strategy after a disappointing white-ball result against England, and the West Indies were the hapless victims on Sunday.

A blistering partnership from Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath has propelled Australia to a massive eight-wicket victory in the first T20 against the West Indies.

The Aussies hinted at a change of strategy in cricket’s shortest format following a disappointing white-ball performance in the Ashes, and they sent an emphatic message to the rest of the world at North Sydney Oval.

West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews scored a stunning 99 not out to help the visitors post a defendable total of 3-147 from their 20 overs.

However, she needed more help from her teammates and within a handful of overs it was clear that it wouldn’t be enough against a stacked Australian batting line-up.

Beth Mooney set the tempo with some early boundaries before mistiming a shot straight to Stafanie Taylor at mid-off.

But that brought McGrath to the crease, the No.1 T20 batter in the world. The all-rounder got about her work quickly and found the boundary with ease.

The Australians finished with 1-57 from the power play, as Healy and McGrath capitalised on that momentum to post an 85-run partnership off 40 deliveries.

Ashleigh Gardner smashes a six against the West Indies. Picture: David Gray / AFP

Celebrating her 250th game for her country in all formats, Healy started the summer with a fantastic innings before being caught in the deep for 56 off 29 balls.

McGrath carried on the up-tempo hitting to bring up her half century off 26 deliveries and finished the innings unbeaten on 60.

In the end, the Aussies chased down the target in a canter to secure victory with 40 deliveries to spare.

“North Sydney is the type of wicket you can chase anything down,” McGrath said.

“We’ve spoken about it a lot as a group in recent times and it was nice to go out there today and play with freedom.

“There were times out there where I went, ‘Where am I going to hit a six?’. And I had to tell myself to calm down and play good cricket shots.

“The Ashes was pretty disappointing for me and I think I went away from my natural game a bit. I just went out there today and backed myself.

“We want to go out there, we want to play aggressively. We want to showcase our talent and we’re looking to improve our game wherever we can.”

Alyssa Healy hits a boundary down the ground. Picture: David Gray / AFP

Earlier, Megan Schutt was the pick of the Australian bowlers in her 100th T20 for her country, finishing with figures of 0-15 off her four overs.

Phoebe Litchfield also starred in the field with a superb piece of fielding to run out the dangerous Taylor for just 10.

CAPTAIN’S KNOCK

The West Indies promised an exciting brand of cricket in Shane Deitz’s first series in charge and it was his captain Hayley Matthews who well and truly delivered with a player-of-the-match performance.

Matthews finished on 99 not out of 74 deliveries after carrying her bat in the West Indies’ total of 3-147. She hit 16 boundaries, including four maximums, in a chanceless innings to lead her side to a competitive total.

Her 99 was the highest score by a West Indies batter against Australia in any format, while it was also Matthews’ second-highest score in T20Is.

Unfortunately, Matthews played a lone hand with the rest of her teammates combining for just 30 runs off 49 balls.

Hayley Matthews dives to make her ground. Picture: David Gray / AFP

BROWN BRINGS THE HEAT

In a statement of intent for the summer ahead, Darcie Brown was bowling with plenty of speed to start the season.

With the wind at her back, Brown steamed in from the Fig Tree End and took the first wicket of the day, of Shabika Gajnabi.

Brown regularly stopped the speed gun at 118km/h or higher, including a fantastic short ball that stunned Matthews and struck her on the helmet.

Unfortunately, the 20-year-old’s inconsistency came back to bite her as Matthews dispatched her to the rope on more than one occasion and she finished her three-over spell with two wides and two no-balls.

But it didn’t deter Brown from bowling fast, and it looks like she’s got a license to thrill this summer.

Originally published as Cricket 2023: Australia easily wins first T20 International versus West Indies