The wintry weather was no hindrance this time around as Australia’s bowlers annihilated the West Indies once again with an eight-wicket win to seal a 2-0 ODI series win in Melbourne on Saturday.
The game closely mirrored Thursday’s abandoned match as the tourists were dismissed again and played for 103, but an injury scare during the warm-up did not go as planned as Ash Gardner was sent off for a thumb x-ray.
Gardner was cleared of any structural damage and could have returned to bat, but was not needed as Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney took Australia home in 16 overs.
A sweep from Perry was launched over the rope for the winning six runs in an ending that befitted the West Indies’ horror series.
Their over-reliance on captain Hayley Matthews was once again exposed after the first game started in the 20s after a fast start for the second game in a row.
Matthews made 310 runs in three innings during a scintillating T20 series before his side were bowled out for 83 in his absence in the first ODI, but West Indies fared no better with the bat after his return from a quad injury.
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Kim Garth trapped Matthews lbw in an impressive two-wicket display with the new ball, the dynamic right-hander burning a review in desperation after being caught out in front.
It may have cost the tourists dearly soon after, when they lost four consecutive wickets in the same manner, three of them after running out of notice.
Garth was named player of the series after dismissing Matthews in his two innings en route to six wickets at an average of 7 over the three matches.
The 27-year-old, who left Ireland for her national allegiance last summer, said she had relished the opportunity to play regularly against the West Indies after traveling with the Australian team for the Ashes, but that she had not been selected for the limited-overs matches.
“It’s definitely come a long way (in my opinion)… since coming into the Australian team it’s been absolutely amazing, but because of that I haven’t actually played as much cricket as I have in recent years, ” Garth said after the match.
“Every time I put on the Australian jersey it’s very exciting, and to be able to go out and play and hopefully justify my place is really nice.”
The West Indies had reason to feel bad after a controversial decision in which Stafanie Taylor took a low-return catch against Annabel Sutherland, which was ruled legal on review even though it was not clear whether Sutherland’s fingers were under the ball.
Two balls later, Shemaine Campbelle reviewed her lightweight dismissal to Alana King thinking she had placed the ball on her pads, but the video umpire judged the impact was on the pad first.
Sutherland attacked the stumps relentlessly to claim another three-wicket haul as Alana King continued her good form, finishing with 2-20 from eight overs.
Australian skipper Alyssa Healy entertained the crowd with six boundaries in a quick knock before bowling a slower ball from Shamilia Connell towards extra cover to depart for 32.
Phoebe Litchfield reached 27 from 29, but hit a pull shot to fall shortly after Healy.
Showers twice swept the Junction Oval during the first innings but the umpires kept the game going, avoiding a repeat of Thursday’s frustrating scenes as the match could not be completed.
