Dwarshuis powers Australia to 5-0 T20I sweep over West Indies – SUCH TV

Ben Dwarshuis struck early by removing both openers and claiming the key wicket of top-scorer Shimron Hetmyer, helping Australia seal a 5-0 T20I series sweep over the West Indies in Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis.

Chasing 171 in the fifth T20I, Australia overcame early setbacks at 25-3 and 60-4 to reach 173-7 with three overs remaining.

Cameron Green steadied the innings with 32, while Tim David smashed 30 off just 12 balls, including four sixes and a four.

Mitchell Owen also contributed a vital 37.

When Green departed, Australia were 141-6, still needing 30, and the West Indies sniffed a consolation win.

But Aaron Hardie kept his composure to see Australia home by three wickets with an unbeaten 28.

“I didn’t expect 5-0 at the start of the series. But we played some great cricket,” said Australia captain Mitchell Marsh.

West Indies captain Shai Hope pinpointed the reason for his team’s failure to win a match.

“We never put together a proper batting display. We either started well or finished poorly or the other way round,” said Hope.

“Against a quality team you can’t get away with that.”

The West Indies were in trouble early, having been asked to bat when Marsh won the toss.

Dwarshuis removed Brandon King for 11 and Hope for nine to reduce the hosts to 22-2 in the fourth over.

That became 64-4 until Hetmyer led a fightback, hitting three fours and three sixes on his way to a half-century.

It looked like the left-hander might take the West Indies to a challenging total, but Dwarshuis returned to induce a miscue to Sean Abbott at long-off from a slower bouncer.

Hetmyer departed for 52 from 31 balls to leave West Indies 155-7 in the 17th over.

“It was a little bit of a slower wicket so we tried to hit the wicket hard and use the slower balls as well,” said Dwarshuis, who was named player of the match.

Australia also won the three Tests which preceded the T20I series to sweep all eight matches on the tour.