Basseterre , July 29(HS): Australia secured a clean sweep against the West Indies, winning the fifth T20 match by 3 wickets with 3 overs to spare. West Indies set a target of 171 runs, starting strong but faltering to 64-4. Despite a fighting 52 from Shimron Hetmyer, who was dismissed by Ben Dwarshuis, the Caribbean side was bowled out for 170 in 19.4 overs. Dwarshuis stood out with 3 wickets. Australia's innings began poorly, losing wickets early, but Cameron Green (32), Tim David (30 off 12), and Mitchell Owen (37) helped stabilize the chase. After Green's dismissal, Aaron Hardy's unbeaten 28 saw Australia across the line.

Captain Mitchell Marsh expressed surprise at the 5-0 series result, while West Indies captain Shai Hope acknowledged the lack of a consistent batting performance as a key factor in their defeat. Players struggled against Dwarshuis' bowling, with Hope and Brandon King both falling early.

The match showcased Australia's dominance, marking a clean sweep of the tour after their 3-0 victory in the Test series. Dwarshuis highlighted the effectiveness of their bowling strategy on a slow pitch, which contributed significantly to their successful campaign against a strong opponent.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar