In the first of the five-match T20I series against the West Indies, Australia registered a victory by three wickets at the Sabina Park in Kingston.
Australia batted second in the match with an aim of chasing down the target of 190 runs. During the visitors` innings, the 23-year-old Mitchell Owen showcased his skills by playing a match-winning knock.
Facing just 27 deliveries, Owen accumulated 50 runs, which was laced with six boundaries. With this, he has joined an elite list of Australian players, including the likes of legendary Ricky Ponting and David Warner.
Owen became just the third Australian batsman to score a half-century on his debut in the shortest format of the game.
Along with him, swashbuckling all-rounder Glenn Maxwell also added another feather in his illustrious international career.
Although the right-hander didn`t have a great outing, but scored enough runs to eclipse legendary Donald Bradman on the list of highest run-scorers for Australia across all three formats of the game.
Facing 10 balls, Maxwell scored 11 runs, with the help of two boundaries. With this, he completed 7004 runs in international cricket, surpassing Bradman`s tally of 6996 runs.
Coming to the match, batting first, the Caribbean team posted a total of 189 runs, thanks to Shai Hope and Roston Chase`s knocks. Facing 39 balls, skipper Hope smashed 55 runs, with the help of four boundaries and three maximums. On the other hand, Chase managed to accumulate 60 runs off 32 deliveries, which was laced with nine boundaries and two maximums.
Ben Dwarshuis played a huge role in Australia`s victory as he claimed four wickets by conceding 36 runs in four overs. Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Nathan Ellis, and Owen were the other bowlers, who registered one wicket each to their names.
During the run chase, along with Owen, Cameron Green was the other half-centurion for the Aussies. He played a knock of 51 runs after facing 26 balls, which included two boundaries and five maximums. With this, Australia won the match by three wickets. They chased the target in 18.5 overs by losing seven wickets.
