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Cameron Green brutalised the West Indies bowlers for the second time in as many matches, this time aided by the impish Josh Inglis, to give Australia a 2-0 lead after Andre Russell’s final two Twenty20 internationals.

A partisan crowd at Sabina Park was briefly thrilled by Russell’s parting 36 from 15 balls, but were later having to duck for cover as Inglis (78 from 33) and Green (56 from 32) made remarkably short work of a chase for 173 to win, rushing to the target with 28 balls to spare.

Cameron Green and Josh Inglis put on a masterclass at Sabina Park.

Glenn Maxwell had been promoted to open and made a momentary dent in the left-arm spin of Akeal Hosein, before his exit to Jason Holder was soon followed by that of captain Mitchell Marsh. At 2-42 in the sixth over this game was in dispute, but Inglis and Green had other ideas as they added 131 in a mere 59 balls.

Both sides struck 12 sixes apiece, but Inglis, Green and the rest of the Australian top four totalled 24 boundaries in all, well clear of the West Indies’ tally of 19. Russell, for what it’s worth, reckoned that the West Indies total was at least 20 runs short of being competitive.

The combatants were somewhat sloppy in the field, shelling seven catches between them. However, Australia’s target was kept manageable by the diligence of a bowling attack that has succeeded in corralling the Caribbean side’s big hitters for successive games on a ground of small dimensions.

Adam Zampa (3-29) did not take a wicket in game one, but he made up for it this time around, while Nathan Ellis (2-34), Maxwell (2-15) and the Twenty20 debutant Matt Kuhnemann all played their roles soundly.

“We dropped four catches along with them [West Indies], so we need to sharpen up there, but I think just all around, the West Indies can put you under a lot of pressure,” Marsh said. “I thought our spinners were fantastic. Our fifth bowling option as a collective was really good.

Mitch Owen goes big in the first Twenty20. Credit: AFP

“They made use of the conditions and then, Josh Inglis is playing like that, there aren’t many bowlers in the world that can bowl to him, so that was outstanding.”

Inglis has long been capable of inflicting rare damage on white-ball bowling attacks, and already has two T20 international centuries under his belt.

But with each such destructive innings, Inglis will add to the temptation for Australia’s selectors to toss him back into Test cricket during the home Ashes summer, perhaps in place of Beau Webster at No.6.

That kind of scenario will only be possible if Green is back bowling well, to ease pressure on Australia’s ageing frontliners, but the growing authority he has shown at the batting crease on this tour can only help.

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