Tim David delivered a stunning unbeaten century, propelling Australia to a commanding win over West Indies as they chased down a formidable 214/4 with an astonishing 23 balls remaining. David, who smashed 11 sixes in his explosive knock, overshadowed Shai Hope’s earlier century to guide Australia to a series-clinching triumph, despite two matches still left to play.
At the halfway mark, West Indies appeared to have the upper hand, but Australia’s response was aggressive right from the outset. Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell took 16 runs off Jediah Blades in the opening over and followed it up with 14 off Jason Holder, immediately putting pressure on the hosts. Despite a brief fightback through wickets from Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd, and Holder—removing both openers and Josh Inglis—Australia ended the PowerPlay at 65/3, setting the stage for David’s heroics.
West Indies relied on their spinners in the middle overs to slow things down, and although Cameron Green struggled to find fluency, David ensured the run rate stayed above 10 per over. Green’s slow innings—11 off 14—came to an end in the ninth over courtesy of Shepherd, but it opened the door for a match-defining partnership between David and Mitchell Owen. Immediately after Green’s dismissal, David went on a rampage, smashing four consecutive sixes in a 28-run over from Gudakesh Motie, helping Australia to 120/4 at the 10-over mark.
A brief drinks break did little to halt Australia’s momentum. Right after the pause, David brought up the fastest T20I fifty for Australia, reaching the milestone in just 16 balls with a boundary. That over also included multiple sixes, further accelerating the chase. Roston Chase was handed the ball in a desperate bid to contain David, but he too was hammered for three sixes and a four in a 23-run over. While Blades managed a rare economical over worth just five runs, Shepherd’s next over proved costly, with both David and Owen hitting a six each. A dropped catch by Brandon King at mid-wicket added to West Indies’ woes, allowing David to continue his onslaught.
The David-Owen stand crossed the 100-run mark in the 15th over, with Owen contributing a modest 18 runs. They tore into Blades in his next over, taking Australia to the brink of victory. Fittingly, David sealed the win in style by flicking a leg-side delivery for four on the first ball of the 17th over, also registering the fastest T20I century by an Australian—off just 37 deliveries.
Earlier in the evening, West Indies had put themselves in a commanding position with a blazing 125-run opening stand between Hope and King in just 11.4 overs. The duo smashed 12 sixes and maintained a strike rate exceeding 170, giving the hosts hope of leveling the series. However, David’s whirlwind knock completely eclipsed that effort, as he matched Hope’s century in 20 fewer balls with a strike rate of 275.68.
Even after the opening partnership ended, West Indies kept the scoreboard ticking. Although Shimron Hetmyer and Sherfane Rutherford fell cheaply, Hope continued to attack, with West Indies adding 49 runs in the final overs to post a total above 200. In the end, however, their efforts fell well short against an Australian side led by David’s unforgettable innings.
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