Wintry weather was no obstacle this time as Australia’s bowlers again obliterated the West Indies with an eight-wicket win to seal a 2-0 ODI series victory in Melbourne on Saturday.
Play closely mirrored Thursday’s abandoned game as the tourists were sent in again and skittled for 103, but an injury scare in the warm-up did not go to script as Ash Gardner was sent for an X-ray on her thumb.
Gardner was cleared of any structural damage and could have returned to bat, but was not required as Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney steered Australia home within 16 overs.
A slog sweep from Perry was dropped over the rope for the six winning runs in an end which was fitting of the West Indies’ horror series.
Their over-reliance on captain Hayley Matthews was again exposed after the opener departed in the 20s following a quick start for the second consecutive game.
Matthews belted 310 runs in three innings during a scintillating T20 series before her side was rolled for 83 in her absence during the first ODI, but the West Indies fared no better with the bat following her return from a quad injury.
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Kim Garth trapped Matthews lbw in an impressive two-wicket display with the new ball, with the dynamic right-hander burning a review in desperation after being caught plumb in front.
It may have cost the tourists soon after when they lost four consecutive wickets in the same fashion, three of them after they had run out of reviews.
Garth was named player of the series after dismissing Matthews in both her innings on the way to six wickets at an average of 7 over the three games.
The 27-year-old, who switched her national allegiance from Ireland last summer, said she had relished the opportunity to play consistently against the West Indies after she travelled with the Australian squad for the Ashes but was not picked for the limited overs games.
“It’s definitely done a lot (for my belief) … since coming into the Australian team it’s been absolutely incredible, but as a result of that I haven’t actually played as much cricket as I have done over the last few years,” Garth said after the match.
“Every time I pull on the Australian shirt, it’s very exciting, and to be able to go out and perform and hopefully justify my spot is really pleasing.”
The West Indies had reason to feel hard done by after a contentious decision where Stafanie Taylor hit a low return catch to Annabel Sutherland, which was deemed to be legal on review despite it not being obvious Sutherland’s fingers were under the ball.
Two balls later, Shemaine Campbelle reviewed her lbw dismissal to Alana King thinking she had edged the ball onto her pads, but the video umpire deemed the impact to be pad-first.
Sutherland attacked the stumps relentlessly to claim another three-wicket haul as Alana King continued her strong form, finishing with 2-20 off eight overs.
Australian skipper Alyssa Healy entertained the crowd with six boundaries during a quickfire knock before she bunted a slower ball from Shamilia Connell to extra cover to depart for 32.
Phoebe Litchfield cruised to 27 off 29 but top-edged a pull shot to fall shortly after Healy.
Showers twice swept across the Junction Oval during the first innings but the umpires kept play moving, avoiding a repeat of Thursday’s frustrating scenes as the match could not be completed.
