Mitchell Owen joined elite company on Sunday, marking his international debut with a composed half-century and a wicket to guide Australia to a nervy three-wicket win over West Indies in the opening match of the five-game T20 series.
Chasing 190 at Bellerive Oval, the hosts recovered from a mid-innings wobble to reach their target with seven balls to spare, thanks largely to an 80-run stand in just 40 balls between Owen and Cameron Green, who hammered 51 from 26 deliveries.
Owen, a 22-year-old Tasmanian all-rounder, became only the third Australian to score a half-century on T20I debut, joining legends David Warner and Ricky Ponting.
“Firstly, happy we got the win; it was nice to contribute,” Owen said. “Just nice to be mentioned with those class players. I was lucky enough I got a few away early and was able to settle into my innings.”
Australia’s big hitters cleared the rope 17 times – one short of the national record – as Green powered the middle overs and Owen calmly rotated strike, ensuring the run rate never spiralled out of control.
“Fantastic,” Australia captain Mitch Marsh said of Owen's debut. "Any time you get a young kid that comes in and performs like that in his first game for Australia, it’s always really exciting.
“I’m sure there’ll be lots of people – I think it’s mid-morning back home now – that would’ve watched that and will be really excited. So we’re pumped for him.”
Earlier, after being sent in to bat, West Indies raced to 32 without loss inside three overs before debutant Cooper Connolly dismissed Brandon King, stumped after a wild charge.
The tourists’ innings was defined by a blistering 91-run second-wicket stand between captain Shai Hope (55) and Roston Chase (60), the latter registering his fastest T20I half-century from just 25 deliveries. Chase struck two elegant sixes off the spinners and dismantled seamer Sean Abbott with three consecutive boundaries before holing out to long-on in the 13th over.
The West Indies looked set for a score well beyond 200 before Australian left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis ripped through their middle order. The 29-year-old claimed a career-best 4-36, including three wickets in four balls in the penultimate over. Jason Holder fended off a hat-trick delivery, only to fall next ball.
Spinner Adam Zampa also kept things tight, conceding just two boundaries in an economical four-over spell, while Australia’s fielders backed up the bowling effort with sharp catching in the deep.
With the win, Australia take a 1-0 lead in the series, building on their recent 3-0 Test sweep of the Caribbean side. The teams meet again on Tuesday in Kingston.
