Australia buried the ghosts of their past and laid their Nottingham jinx to rest as they edged past West Windies by 15 runs.
The tenth match of the ICC World Cup 2019 proved that winning is a habit and defending champions Australia can get the job when they need it the most. West Indies won the toss and invited the defending champions to taste their hot boiling brew from their bowlers. The decision had the desired effect as the top order of the Kangaroos was sent packing.
Captain Aaron Flinch, David Warner, Khawaja, Maxwell fell at regular intervals as the yellow brigade was stuttering and stammering at 5 for 79 in the 17th over. It took Steven Smith to play the sheet anchor role to resurrect the Australian innings with a well deserved 73 runs.
While Alex Carey chipped in with a valuable 45 it was 31 year old Nathan Coulter-Nile who shone like a knight in shining armour for the team from down under. A superlative 92 from 60 deliveries that was punctuated with 8 fours and 4 sixes took Australia to post 288 in their allotted 50 overs.
Carlos Brathwaite was the wrecker-in-chief with the ball as he claimed 3 wickets while Andre Russell, Sheldon Cottrell and Oshane Thomas picked up 2 wickets each.
Chasing 289 to win, The West Indies lost Evin Lewis as early in the 2nd over. But hope shined only when Mitchell Starc got the master blaster Chris Gayle out through a poor umpiring exhibition. Pooran contributed with 40 off 36 while skipper Holder‘s 51 off 57 deliveries went in vain when Starc had Russell caught by Maxwell on 15 from 11 balls.
Carlos Brathwaite and Ashley Nurse did offer a picket fence resistance with 16 and 19 hard hitting runs, but the Windies bandwagon came to a grinding halt at 273/9 when the allotted 50 overs ran dry.
Mitchell Starc shined brightest among the Aussie bowlers with 5 wickets while Cummins was precise with a catch of 2 victims. Zampa had to console with a lone wicket.
Nathan Coulter-Nile was adjudged the Man of the match for his spell with the bat.
Australia stamped their authority on the World Cup with this spectacular 15 run win and seemed to be in the grove as they face India in their next league match on June 9th at the Oval.