On Saturday, June 1, the Men's T20 World Cup is set to get underway in the USA and West Indies, on the back of a gruelling Indian cricketing summer. Twenty teams will be fighting it out for the right to lift the coveted ICC trophy on June 29. This year's tournament marks the first time that the USA will be hosting a major ICC event.
BET NOW: Exclusive sign-up offers and bonuses when you bet on T20 World Cup action
Excitement for the global event is starting to build, as the warm-up matches for the tournament began over the past few days. Some of the more recent matches have been affected by adverse weather conditions, but the completed games are providing some much-needed action to the players involved.
West Indies vs Australia, T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up match
On Friday, Australia and West Indies faced off in both teams' final warm-up fixture at the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain. Australia named only nine players to take part in the match, as they had against Namibia owing to player rest requirements. Members of the coaching staff filled in as substitute fielders.
MORE: Did Ambati Rayudu criticise Virat Kohli after RCB's elimination?
Australia chose to field first, with only five bowling options including part-timer Tim David. West Indies openers Shai Hope and Johnson Charles raced to 38 in 2.4 overs before Hope was caught off the bowling of Ashton Agar.
The innings belonged to just a couple of batters; Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell. They hit 75 and 52 respectively off 25 deliveries each, with nine fours and twelve sixes between them. A late flourish from Sherfane Rutherford (47* off 18) swelled West Indies' total to 257/4.
MORE: Will KKR retain Mitchell Starc for IPL 2025?
With only nine batters available to them, Australia put up a good fight as nearly all the batters scored quickfire 20s and 30s. Josh Inglis top-scored with 55, and fast bowler Nathan Ellis showcased his skill with the willow as he hit 39 from 22 balls. In the end, it just wasn't enough as they ended on 222/7. Amid the carnage though, West Indian left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie returned respectable figures of 2/31 from his four overs.
Result: West Indies 257/4 in 20 overs (Pooran 75, Powell 52, Zampa 2/62) beat Australia 222/7 in 20 overs (Inglis 39, Ellis 39, Motie 2/31) by 35 runs.
West Indies vs Australia, T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up match - Highlights
T20 WORLD CUP LATEST: Full schedule of fixtures and results | Impact player rules for T20 WC | Can India win the Cricket World Cup? | Where and when is the T20 WC final?