NEW DELHI: David Warner made a significant impact by smashing 70 runs off 36 balls in his 100th Twenty20 International, contributing to Australia's formidable total of 213-7 in the opening match against the West Indies in Hobart on Friday.
Despite being put into bat on a chilly and windy evening, Australia showcased their batting prowess by scoring 77 runs in the initial six-over powerplay, setting a commanding tone for the innings.
Warner, the third player to achieve the milestone of playing 100 internationals in each format after Ross Taylor and Virat Kohli, displayed his batting prowess right from the beginning. He aggressively struck five boundaries in his first 10 balls, with four of them coming in Jason Holder's opening over.
The 37-year-old left-hander reached his 25th T20 half-century in just 22 balls, signalling his intent to be a strong contender for the upcoming World Cup later in the year.
Warner's innings came to an end at 70 when he fell victim to a slower delivery from Alzarri Joseph, gloving the ball to wicket-keeper Nicolas Pooran.
His knock featured an impressive 12 fours and a six, underlining his exceptional form and determination on the field. This innings served as a clear message to selectors about Warner's readiness and commitment for major tournaments in the near future.
Despite resting Travis Head and Steve Smith for the series, Australia's opening pair remained potent as Josh Inglis, partnering Warner, displayed aggression, scoring a quick 39 off 25 balls. His attacking innings came to an end when he was dismissed by Holder, offering a simple catch to Rovman Powell at mid-off, leaving Australia at 93-1 after eight overs.
Mitchell Marsh, who had dealt with a bout of Covid leading up to the match and used a separate dressing room, showcased resilience and good form. He contributed to Australia's strong performance, smashing a massive six off Andre Russell and helping the team reach 110-1 at the halfway mark. However, he was caught behind off Joseph after scoring 16 runs.
Following Warner's departure, the run rate witnessed a slowdown, with Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell getting out cheaply. Tim David then took charge, playing an explosive and unbeaten innings of 37 off 17 balls to provide late momentum to the Australian innings.
Despite a couple of setbacks, Australia managed to post a challenging total of 213-7, thanks to the collective contributions of their dynamic batting lineup.
(With AFP inputs)
