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Patna : West Indies (WI) defeated Australia by 18 runs in 1st T20I at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia, on July 9, 2021, late night, to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Chasing a target of 146 runs, Australia were bundled out for just 127 in 16 overs with fast medium bowler Obed McCoy taking 4/26 in 4 overs, leg spinner Hayden Walsh 3/23, and spin all-rounder Fabian Allen 2/24. Australia had won the toss and opted to bowl. McCoy, 24, was declared Player Of The Match.
Batting first, T20 World Champion WI scored a modest 145 /6 in 20 overs with all-rounder Andre Russel scoring 51 in 28 balls hitting 3 fours and 5 sixes while opener Lendl Simmons scored 27 in 28 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. WI lost their first wicket of opener Evin Lewis with only 8 runs on board. Lewis fell to fast bowler Josh Hazlewood for zero. WI Superstar Chris Gayle also fell to Hazlewood for 4 making it 24/2. Shimron Hetmyer scored 20 runs while captain Nicholas Pooran (wk) was run out for 17 runs. For Australia, Hazlewood took 3/12 in 4 overs. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh took 2/26 in 4 overs. It was Pooran’s first game as captain.
In reply, Australia were all out for just 127 runs with opener Matthew Wade scoring 33 in 14 balls with 1 four and 3 sixes while Mitchell Marsh scored 51 in 31 balls hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes. Captain Aaron Finch fell to spinner Fabian Allen for 4.