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Experienced opener David Warner became Australia's first player from the nation to make 100 appearances in all formats of cricket following his inclusion in Australia's playing XI for the first T20I clash against West Indies on Friday.
Warner making his 100th appearance in the T20I, joined the likes of former skipper Aaron Finch (103) and star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell (100) to become just the third Australian player to achieve the feat.
Overall Warner joins the elite company of India's stalwart batter Virat Kohli and New Zealand's Ross Taylor to become the third man to represent his country a hundred times in all formats.
Coming to the match, West Indies skipper Rovman Powell won the toss and elected to bowl first in the first T20I of the three-match series against Australia at Bellerive Oval.
Warner is leading the Baggy Greens, as the captain Mitchell Marsh has suffered Covid, however, he will play the fixture.
At the time of the toss, Warner said, "We were going to bowl first as well. The wicket looks nice. Generally in the first six, you can give yourself some time. There are some variables with the wind, and one side a bit big. Mitch has taken his mask off today. He's come back alright. If the game was yesterday he wouldn't have been able to play. No Spencer Johnson or Aaron Hardie but it's still six changes from the last T20I Australia played."
Warner, Zampa, Stoinis shine as Australia claim 11-run victory against West Indies in 1st T20I
Jason Holder's late blitz went in vain as Adam Zampa and Marcus Stoinis' lethal spells powered Australia to 11 runs win in a high-scoring first T20I against West Indies at the Bellerive Oval on Friday.
West Indies started and finished well, but regular wickets through the middle ensured Australia's 213 was enough to go 1-0 up in Hobart.
Australia overcame Windies in a high-scoring encounter to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match T20I series.
David Warner hit a half-century in his 100th T20I before legspinner Adam Zampa sparkled with three wickets as Australia held off a barnstorming chase from a full-strength team.
The West Indies needing 214 to win, the West Indies got off to the perfect start. Brandon King and Johnson Charles were smoking it to all parts of the ground till Adam Zampa broke their 89-run opening stand in the 9th over. Zampa returned for another spell and struck a double blow, cleaning up Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran in the 16th over.
There was some excitement towards the end as Jason Holder managed to get some away but in the end, the Australians held their nerve in the last over and clinched an 11-run win.
Earlier, after skipper Rovman Powell decided to send Australia in to bat first, the visitors' bowlers needed some time to acclimate to the pitch's speed, which Warner and opening partner Josh Inglis took full advantage of.
Inglis' imaginative stroke play was on full show as he reverse-lapped Andre Russell before falling for 39 off 25 balls.
Inglis was the first of six Australian batters to succumb to pace, followed by skipper Mitch Marsh (16), Marcus Stoinis (9) and Glenn Maxwell (10) who all came and gone.
Warner went back to the pavilion as Australia lost 4-30 to fall to 5-160 after 16 overs. Tim David (37 not out off 17) and Matthew Wade (21 off 14) added some momentum at the back end of the innings. Russell (3-42) was the pick of the visiting bowlers.
Brief score: Australia 213/7 (David Warner 70, Josh Inglis 39; Andre Russell 3-42) vs West Indies 202/8 (Brandon King 53, Johnson Charles 42; Adam Zampa 3-26)