West Indies star Nicholas Pooran continued his lethal form from IPL 2024, putting on a dominant batting display in their T20 World Cup warm-up clash against Australia at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday. This dominant performance sends a strong message to other teams just two days before the mega event kicks off.
Nicholas Pooran’s fireworks light up warm-up game
Fresh off a prolific IPL season with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Pooran showcased his red-hot form with a blistering 75 off just 25 balls. His innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, studded with five fours and a staggering eight sixes, for a phenomenal strike rate of 300. This knock serves as a warning to other teams, reminding them of the explosive threat Pooran poses in the upcoming T20 WC.
Pooran wasn’t the only batsman to light up the scoreboard. Rovman Powell chipped in with a quickfire 52 off 25 balls, while Sherfane Rutherford provided a late cameo with 47 off just 18 deliveries. This collective effort propelled the West Indies to a massive total of 257/4, putting immense pressure on the Australian line-up.
Also READ: Aussie legend Ricky Ponting predicts the leading run-scorer & highest wicket-taker of T20 World Cup 2024
Australia falls short despite spirited fightback
Australia attempted a fightback, with David Warner and Ashton Agar providing early impetus. While captain Mitchell Marsh fell cheaply, Josh Inglis played a valiant knock of 55 off 30 balls, keeping hope alive for the visitors. Tim David, Matthew Wade, Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa all contributed with cameos, but ultimately, they fell short by 35 runs, finishing at 222/7.
West Indies gain confidence ahead of T20 World Cup 2024
This convincing win against a strong Australian side, albeit missing some key players, will undoubtedly boost the West Indies’ confidence heading into the T20 World Cup on home soil. Gudakesh Motie, who shone in the recent series whitewash against South Africa, continued his fine form, picking up 2 wickets for just 31 runs in a pitch that offered minimal assistance to spinners.
Also READ: Tim Paine picks Australia’s best bowling attack for the T20 World Cup 2024
With Pooran in red-hot form and the entire batting unit firing on all cylinders, the West Indies look like a serious contender to lift their third T20 World Cup title. The tournament begins in just two days, and cricket fans worldwide eagerly await to see if Pooran can continue his fireworks on the biggest stage.
Here’s the video:
Sir Nicholas Pooran
The best T20 batsman rn 🚬 pic.twitter.com/u6pXxEwrVl
— Akshat (@Akshatpr1v) May 31, 2024
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