Australia batter David Warner on Friday played his 100th T20I match and scored 70 runs to help his team to an 11-run win over West Indies at the Bellerive Oval.
Warner, who was also adjudged the man of the match, hit 12 fours and 1 six en route to his 70 which took 36 balls. He was ultimately caught out by Nicholas Pooran off Alzarri Joseph’s bowling.
“Pleasing to get the win on the board. Was a nice wicket to bat on and you have to make the most of those. Feel great and refreshed, I’m pumped. I want to play the T20 World Cup and finish there. It’s a good journey we’ve got going for the next 6 months. Pretty much the same squad going to New Zealand so it’s important we win there as well,” Warner said after the match.
Besides Warner, spinner Adam Zampa was also on song as he picked up 3-26 which included the scalps of opener Johnson Charles, Pooran and Andre Russell.
Warner and Tim David (37 not out off 17 balls) provided a strong finish for Australia to reach 213-7 in the first Twenty20 international.
West Indies, which needed to chase down its second highest-ever T20 total, couldn’t capitalize on a brisk start from Brandon King (53) and Charles (42) as Zampa struck crucial blows and restricted the opposition’s chase to 202-8 in its 20 overs.
Australia, which will be playing six T20s over the next three weeks, routed West Indies 3-0 in the ODI series. The second game of the three-match series will be played on Sunday at Adelaide.
Last month, Warner played his last Test match for the country at Sydney and Warner scored another smashing half-century in his final innings.
Warner has had an illustrious career for the Aussies. In 112 Test matches, the gutsy left-hander made 8786 runs at an average of 44.6, scoring 26 tons and 37 half-centuries. He also has a mammoth 335 against Pakistan.
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