In a valiant effort by Gudakesh Motie and Keacy Carty, the West Indies failed to stage a comeback as Australia secured an unassailable 2-0 lead and emerged victorious in the ODI series held in Sydney on Sunday.
Batting first, the Windies bowlers initially exerted control, picking up quick wickets to have Australia struggling at 89 for 4 by the 16th over.
However, an impressive display from Sean Abbott, who scored 69 runs, propelled Australia to a competitive total of 258-9.
Spinner Gudakesh Motie showcased his prowess with figures of three for 28 from his 10 overs, supported by Romario Shepherd and Alzarri Joseph, who grabbed two wickets each.
In pursuit of the target, the West Indies faced early setbacks, falling to 34 for 3 in the 9th over, with Alick Athanaze, Justin Greaves, and Kjorn Ottley departing early.
Despite a 53-run partnership between Shai Hope and Kacey Carty, the Windies struggled to maintain momentum.
Carty’s dismissal for 40 runs in the 29th over saw the West Indies faltering further, eventually being bowled out for 175, falling short of the target by 83 runs.
Sean Abbott shone with the ball for Australia, claiming three wickets for 40 runs, while Josh Hazlewood also impressed with three wickets for 43 runs.
Reflecting on the match, Windies vice-captain Alzarri Joseph expressed satisfaction with the efforts of his bowlers but acknowledged the disappointment of the loss.
He emphasized the need for improvement to compete effectively against top-flight teams internationally.
The final match of the series is scheduled to take place in Canberra on Monday evening, followed by a three-match T20 series between the two teams, commencing at Hobart on Friday.
Despite the defeat, the West Indies remain determined to bounce back and showcase better performances in the upcoming matches.