‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle (67) smashed his first T20I half-century since 2016, as West Indies took an unassailable 3-0 lead in their five-match series against a visiting Australia. But what caught the fancy of the internet was Fabian Allen’s thrilling relay catch in the outfield.
After electing to bat first, captain Aaron Finch was looking to consolidate the innings after a top-order collapse followed a 41-run opening stand. In the 12th over of the innings, he looked to up the ante against leg-break bowler Hayden Walsh by trying to hit a loopy delivery over mid-wicket.
The ball went high up in the air as a sprinting Dwayne Bravo covered about 25 yards to settle under it. Fabian Allen also ran in across Bravo’s eyeline from the deep midwicket boundary, which might have distracted the former.
Bravo bobbled the chest high chance five yards inside the rope and on the second attempt poked the ball off his hand forward towards his teammate. Allen had his eyes on the ball throughout this flash-speed episode and made an alert acrobatic attempt to pouch the ball on the rebound.
Not only did he pocket this stunner, but also ended up with economical figures of 1/26 off his four overs. Allen has played a crucial part in containing the Aussies during West Indies’ hattrick of recent wins, returning 0/22 and 2/24 in the previous two outings.
“The hard work and the hunger of Fabian Allen and Hayden Walsh [has been commendable], both of them have been doing a lot of work,” West Indian skipper Nicholas Pooran said in the post-match ceremony.
The hosts have registered resounding victories over the men in yellow, in the last few days. The West Indian bowlers made hay in dismissing the Aussies within 16 overs in the first game, while a swashbuckling batting display earned them a 56-run win in the second.
Following the Australia bilateral, the Caribbean is set to host back-to-back T20 series against Pakistan and England, ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year. West Indies are two-time champions and current holders of the trophy, having won the dramatic final against England in Kolkata, in 2016.
Image: Instagram/WindiesCricket
