By Michelangelo Jacobus
Captain Steve Paulsen struck 45 and claimed five wickets to lead Australia to an 88-run victory over West Indies in the opening match of the International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40s World Cup at the National Stadium, Providence, on Saturday.
Australia posted 266 for five from their 45 overs after choosing to bat, then dismissed West Indies for 178 in 40.1 overs. Paulsen finished with five for 41 from 8.1 overs to secure the Man of the Match award and give his team a winning start to the tournament in Guyana.
Opener Ryan Broad anchored Australia’s innings with 58, while fellow opening batsman Glen Batticciotto and Greg Hunt contributed 48 apiece. West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin later top-scored for his side with 31 as Australia’s disciplined bowling prevented the hosts from mounting a sustained challenge.
In hot conditions on a surface that favoured batting during the first innings, Broad and Batticciotto laid the foundation with an opening partnership of 94. Broad faced 76 deliveries and struck five fours and a six before Ramdin stumped him off Imran Khan in the 19th over.
Batticciotto made his 48 from 51 balls, including a four and a six, before being caught by Antonnel Atwell off Narsingh Deonarine with the score at 123 for two.
Paulsen and Hunt then added 77 for the third wicket to keep Australia moving towards a competitive total. Hunt was the more aggressive of the pair, hitting four fours and two sixes in his 40-ball innings before Devendra Bishoo took a return catch to dismiss him at 200 for three.
West Indies had opportunities to interrupt that progress but failed to take them. In the 29th over, Atwell missed a run-out chance and spilt a return catch, allowing Australia to maintain their momentum and underlining the value of taking chances in the field.
Paulsen’s 50-ball innings ended through a run-out by Sewnarine Chattergoon, while Matthew Weaver fell to Khan for nine. However, Steven Spoljaric and Richie Wyld added an unbroken 47 for the sixth wicket to carry Australia to 266. Spoljaric finished on 26 from 21 balls, with three fours, while Wyld contributed 21 from 20 deliveries, including two boundaries.
Khan was West Indies’ most successful bowler with two for 36 from nine overs. Bishoo returned one for 37 from nine, while Deonarine took one for 28 from six.
West Indies collapse
Chasing 267, West Indies struggled against an Australian attack that bowled good lengths and found assistance from the surface. Sewnarine Chattergoon scored 30 from 31 balls, striking three fours, but his dismissal at 35 for one began a difficult period for the hosts.
Hemnarine Chattergoon fell for five, Randy Thomas made 11 and Deonarine scored five as West Indies slipped to 52 for four in the 15th over.
Ramdin and Atwell offered resistance with a fifth-wicket partnership of 55 before Paulsen bowled Atwell for 28. His 37-ball innings included a four and two sixes.
Larry Babb added a brisk 21 from 16 deliveries, hitting two fours and a six, but also fell to Paulsen. Ramdin’s patient 31 from 55 balls, ended when he was caught by the Australian captain off Mark Cleary, leaving West Indies at 151 for seven.
Khan remained unbeaten on 26 from as many deliveries, but Paulsen removed the final three batsmen to complete his five-wicket haul and seal the result.
Cleary supported his captain with two for 33 from seven overs. Jamie Panelli took one for 18 from five, Shaun Mathews claimed one for 18 from seven, and Spoljaric finished with one for 35 from nine.
Ramdin received the Spirit of the Game award for his calm and respectful conduct throughout the match. Earlier, Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs, had delivered the ceremonial first ball to mark the start of the tournament.
West Indies will seek to rebound against defending champions South Africa at Providence on Tuesday. Australia also has an upcoming meeting with Canada at the Enmore Community Centre Ground, East Coast Demerara.
The next round is headlined by the clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India at Providence. England face New Zealand at GCC, South Africa meet Wales at Lusignan, Canada play Colombia at Enmore, and Australia return to action against Namibia at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.
Discover more from Guyana Times
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
