West Indies win first International Digicel 20-20 in the Caribbean
The West Indies beat world number one, Australia, by seven wickets in the first ever 20/20 International cricket match in the Caribbean at the modernized Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 20th, 2008.
It was a festive occasion at the so-called “Mecca” of Caribbean cricket, as the virtually sold-out crowd braved overcast skies and persistent drizzles to see history in the making.
With the rain delaying the start of the game for nearly two-and-a-half hours, thousands of the Caribbean and International fans turned the Oval into a mini-festival venue, playing music, dancing, waving flags and having a good time.
When play did begin in the afternoon, the match was reduced to an 11-overs-a-side affair. The visiting Aussies batted first and rattled up 97 runs for three wickets in less than an hour.
Their first-time opening pair of Shaun Marsh and Luke Ronchi did most of the work, bashing 57 runs off the first six overs.
Captained by Dwayne Bravo, in the absence of both Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan, the West Indies then took the Australian bowling to task, smacking 102 runs for three wickets, with 11 balls to spare, triggering an even more electrifying atmosphere at Kensington Oval.
There was excitement from the start of the West Indies innings, when opener Xavier Marshall started the ball rolling by hitting fearsome Australian pacer Brett Lee for six off the first ball.
Marshall, the eventual man-of-the-match, smashed a lightning 36 off 15 balls, including three sixes and three fours, before being run out.
Captain Bravo followed suit, hitting three sixes off 15 balls in his 28 not out.
Debutant Barbadian pacer Kemar Roach took two of the three Australian wickets for 29 runs.
Friday’s Digicel 20-20 was the only such game in the current series between Australian and the West Indies.
The Aussies won the 3-test series two games to none.
Additional Information:
June 22nd, 2008
