Player of the Match
Player of the Match

10.33 pm Ex-captain Daren Sammy is pumped up in the stands giving out high-fives galore. Whereas West Indies have shown incredible firepower throughout their order all series, Australia's lineup has been dry of runs with the exception of Mitchell Marsh. Another low score today and their chances were slim defending today. Those chances went from slim to none after Gayle's knock as he passed 14,000 runs in T20 cricket in the process tonight. West Indies are doing all of this without regular captain Kieron Pollard, which underscores their depth and dominance in this series.

Player of the Match, Universe Boss Chris Gayle: "It's a great journey. I'm so happy and so pleased to get a series win first of all. I just want to commend the stand-in captain Nicholas Pooran for winning a fantastic series against a great team. To Kieron Pollard, he played a big part as well even though he played in none of these games. You all knew I was struggling with the bat and to be able to get some runs today was very pleasing. But what was pleasing about getting these runs tonight was my teammates. I want to dedicate this half-century and milestone to my teammates, especially Kieron Pollard and he stand tall for the person I am and what I've achieved. He let me know where I stand within this team and he wanted me to go and express myself. So I'm very grateful for that pep talk because sometimes it doesn't matter how great you are, you need a bit of a talk sometimes. That coming from Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo with big support in the media as well. I have to commend those senior guys, they played a fantastic part with what happened today. With this strength and unity, we're playing some great allround cricket and I'm really pleased to win this series."

Aaron Finch, Australia captain: "Same as the other games, we just haven't had the top order go on deep in the innings. Myself getting out with back-to-back wickets exposing two new players. It's been quite similar the whole way through. Credit to West Indies. They bowled beautifully especially at that back end. They denied us any length to get up and under that short side. They're an experienced side and they showed it tonight. We would've liked more runs no doubt and that comes down to the top order not going through. If one of your top four is there towards the back end, I think naturally you put pressure on the opposition bowlers especially with just your presence. But myself exposing two new players toward the end when you're looking to go big, it's always going to be difficult. International cricket is hard and you're playing against some great players. Some of their players have 500-plus games but we have to be better. No doubt we've been below our best. We started well with the ball so there's still some positives there and hopefully we keep improving."

Nicholas Pooran, West Indies captain: "Top game. We kept asking for improvement and tonight we came out and executed our plans with bat and ball. There's a reason why Chris Gayle has 14,000 T20 runs, the greatest T20 batsman to play the game. Very pleased for him and the dressing room is going to be even more special after that innings. [Winning my first three games as captain] I'm very thankful and it's something I didn't dream of but this only happened because of this bunch of guys we have here. It's a special group of guys and I can't ask for better T20 cricketers around me. The experience and knowledge in that dressing room is too much and I'm thankful for the support, the support of Polly and all the other senior players. He's my mentor and this is a special feeling for him as well. He's someone who always wants to see me do well but he's shared a lot of knowledge the last few days about how to go about bowling, batting, keeping the nerves and making decisions under pressure. The hard work and the hunger of Fabian Allen and Hayden Walsh, both of them have been doing a lot of work. I felt like we're smart using the breeze. It's always tough hitting sixes against the breeze. We try our best to stuff singles into the leg side especially the right-handers so basically force their batsmen to hit into the breeze. Thankfully we are successful and hopefully that plan can continue working as well. We want to work on consistency. Three games is nothing. If we can win this 5-0, then we'll take it."

Well that's it from us tonight. Come back on Wednesday for the fourth match in this series when I'll be back on the ball-by-ball duties with Andrew McGlashan. Until then, I'm Peter Della Penna. Take care!

14.5
4
Meredith to Pooran, FOUR, clinches the series win in style! Short ball creamed flat over midwicket, one bounce over the rope. Pooran howls in delight. The stand-in captain's record remains perfect. West Indies win by six wickets with 31 balls to spare to take a 3-0 series lead.
14.4
4
Meredith to Pooran, FOUR, good length ball strays on the legs, flicked too easily over fine leg to the rope.

Sunny: "Oh please!! First 50 since 2016. Big deal .. let Gayle score a few more and then we can say he is back. One good game doesn't make "back in form""

I think you're forgetting Gayle has barely played any T20Is in the last 5 years while concentrating on franchise cricket so that "first T20I in five years" stat is very misleading.

14.4
1w
Meredith to Pooran, 1 wide, slower bouncer over off stump, left alone, deemed too high for Pooran and called a wide.
14.3
1
Meredith to Russell, 1 run, yorker on the stumps, scuffed out to deep backward square.
14.3
7nb
Meredith to Russell, (no ball) SIX, full length ball on fourth stump, Russell clears the front leg to slam this over wide long-on. Overstep too by Meredith so a free hit coming up.
14.2
1
Meredith to Pooran, 1 run, full on the legs, flicked through midwicket.

Hat-trick ball for Meredith. Took Gayle's wicket to end his previous over. Russell off strike as they switched ends in the air and Pooran will face it.

14.1
W
Meredith to Bravo, OUT, tremendous catch by Zampa backpedaling at short third man! Short ball on fifth stump, Bravo tries to whack this over cover but skies a chance over the ring instead. Zampa is tangled up in knots initially trying to locate this going back from the ring and finally decides to attempt an over the shoulder catch with his body facing the boundary. It was theatrical as he almost overran the ball but he reaches out in front of his body and holds on in the end while collapsing to the turf.

DJ Bravo c Zampa b Meredith 7 (13m 7b 1x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

END OF OVER:
14 | 8 Runs | WI: 124/3 (18 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 8.85, RRR: 3.00)

  • Nicholas Pooran23 (24b)
  • Dwayne Bravo7 (6b)
  • Mitchell Starc4-0-15-1
  • Josh Hazlewood3-0-33-0

Rohit: "Australia have never given this format the respect it deserves and thus they are doing this bad. Most teams have identified particular players for particular roles and given them the time to practice. Australia tend to use twenty20 as a time to rest their proper players and try out all their reserves. No one knows their respective roles and havent had enough to practice repetitively. "

13.6
4
Starc to Pooran, FOUR, elegant! Full on sixth stump, Pooran opens the face to flash a drive square behind point and beats the man on the ring before skittling to the rope.
13.5
0
Starc to Pooran, no run, low full toss on off checked back down the pitch by Pooran. Starc gets his hand to the ball in his follow-through and deflects it onto the stumps. Bravo was looking for a run and was struggling to get back. Third umpire checking for the runout. Looked obvious live that Starc get fingertips to the ball but the third umpire is being overly cautious checking replays. It doesn't matter regardless as Bravo did wind up getting his bat grounded in the end.

Manoj Gautam: "West Indies knows how to respect a legend!"

13.4
1
Starc to Bravo, 1 run, yorker on off stump squirted out to the cover sweeper.
13.3
0
Starc to Bravo, no run, full on off, defended on the front foot to mid-off.

Kiwi glee: "Watching Australia struggle at cricket is almost as satisfying as watching England build their football team up and then stumble at the last hurdle." Forza Italia!

13.2
2
Starc to Bravo, 2 runs, full on middle, chipped over midwicket and tracked down by the sweeper for a pair.

Starc switches around the stumps to Bravo.

13.1
1
Starc to Pooran, 1 run, full on middle and leg, flicked through midwicket for one.

Starc back for his last.

END OF OVER:
13 | 7 Runs | WI: 116/3 (26 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 8.92, RRR: 3.71)

  • Dwayne Bravo4 (3b)
  • Nicholas Pooran18 (21b)
  • Josh Hazlewood3-0-33-0
  • Riley Meredith3-0-30-2

Hashir : "Looked like Gayle took Bravo's 'Gayle may not be among the runs, but he has a fear factory statement seriously. Vintage Universe Boss." Here's what Hashir is referencing. Some Gayle doubters popped out before the match. Fair to say they've been silenced tonight.

12.6
4
Hazlewood to Bravo, FOUR, classy! Back of a length on fifth stump, Bravo goes back to punch through extra cover, timed all the way to the rope.
12.5
0
Hazlewood to Bravo, no run, back of a length on middle, Bravo hops back in defense and is hit above the knee roll, big lbw shout denied. Too high.

Reid: "It seems to be a common complaint from Australian fans that the BBL/other T20 leagues are impacting the ability to compete in test/international cricket. The thing is, all other teams have to contend with T20 leagues and seem to manage. I think the issue is that Australia just isn't that great a team at the moment, and are especially poor at T20."

12.4
0
Hazlewood to Bravo, no run, bouncer on fifth stump, left alone.

Ananth: "Never underestimate the Universe Boss!"

12.3
1
Hazlewood to Pooran, 1 run, short and wide outside off, sliced behind point for one.

Maha: "Someone asked Bravo about CG's batting. Hope Ausi's are trying to find that journo."

12.2
2
Hazlewood to Pooran, 2 runs, full on the legs, flicked wide of deep square leg for a well-run two.
12.1
0
Hazlewood to Pooran, no run, good length ball on fifth stump, defended.

Hazlewood replaces Zampa for his third, over the stumps.

END OF OVER:
12 | 16 Runs 1 Wkt | WI: 109/3 (33 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 9.08, RRR: 4.12)

  • Nicholas Pooran15 (18b)
  • Riley Meredith3-0-30-2
  • Adam Zampa3-0-34-0
11.6
W
Meredith to Gayle, OUT, Meredith ends the carnage with a slower ball at 123 kph! Short on fifth stump, Gayle struggled to keep his hands back with the lack of pace and tried to muscle it over mid-on rather than accessing the off side with the width on offer, winds up knuckling a thick edge that floats to Wade at head height. Gayle gets a hug from Pooran before walking off, and then another hug from Bravo who is on his way to the crease as the whole West Indies bench rises to give him a standing ovation.

CH Gayle c †Wade b Meredith 67 (57m 38b 4x4 7x6) SR: 176.31

West Indies 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st4LMP SimmonsADS Fletcher
2nd38CH GayleLMP Simmons
3rd67CH GayleN Pooran
4th15DJ BravoN Pooran
5th18AD RussellN Pooran