Australia edged out West Indies by 3 wickets in a high-scoring thriller at Sabina Park, Kingston, to take a 1–0 lead in the three-match T20I series. Chasing a competitive target of 190, Australia rode on explosive knocks from Cameron Green and debutant Mitchell Owen to seal the game with seven balls to spare in the opening T20I.
Shai Hope and Rostan Chase lift Windies to 189 despite Ben Dwarshuis’ 4-fer
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Australia were put under pressure early on as West Indies piled on 189/8 in their 20 overs. Shai Hope anchored the innings with a well-paced 55 off 39 deliveries, smashing 4 fours and 3 sixes. The star of the show, however, was Roston Chase, who hammered 60 from just 32 balls, including 9 boundaries and 2 maximums.
Shimron Hetmyer also played a fiery cameo, scoring 38 off 19 balls with 3 sixes, helping the hosts build strong momentum during the middle overs. But Australia clawed back in the death overs, thanks largely to Ben Dwarshuis, who finished with figures of 4/36. He was well supported by Nathan Ellis (1/31) and Cooper Connolly (1/24), as West Indies lost 5 wickets in the final four overs to fall just short of the 200-run mark.
Cameron Green-Mitchell Owen duo headlines successful Aussie chase
In reply, Australia’s top order wobbled slightly, slipping to 44/2 inside the powerplay. But Green counter-attacked with brute force, slamming 51 off 26 balls, laced with 5 sixes. His partnership with Glenn Maxwell helped steady the innings before Owen took center stage.
Owen, in only his maiden T20I appearance, delivered under pressure with an astonishing 50 off 27 balls, belting 6 sixes and keeping Australia ahead in the run chase. Though West Indies chipped in with wickets at regular intervals—Gudakesh Motie and Joseph both picking two apiece—the visitors never lost sight of the required rate.
Connolly and Dwarshuis chipped in with handy contributions before Sean Abbott finished the chase in the 19th over, securing a 3-wicket win for the visitors. For his match-winning half-century under pressure, Owen was adjudged Player of the Match. His calm composure and aggressive intent in the latter half of the chase proved decisive in taking Australia over the line in a tense finish.
Here’s how fans reacted:
50 on his Australian debut 🙌
You’re the man, Mitch Owen 👏 #WIvAUS pic.twitter.com/XKdlpyKNww
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) July 21, 2025
On debut, Mitchell Owen struck in his very first international over, then walked in at 78/4 chasing 190 and hammered a 50 off just 26 balls; without hitting a single four! Couldn’t have asked for a better impact on debut… pic.twitter.com/JK02nOfpxg
— Abhishek AB (@ABsay_ek) July 21, 2025
MITCHELL OWEN ON HIS DEBUT T20I FOR AUSTRALIA:
– 50(27) when AUS 78/4.
– 1/14 with the ball.
– Batting at No.6 for Australia.Mitchell Owen is 23 years old, He’s a special talent. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/WEQ45Tw4GN
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) July 21, 2025
Mitchell Owen’s debut was box-office stuff-
• Power-hitting masterclass: 50 off 27 with six sixes
•Smart with the ball: Removed the dangerous Shai Hope.At 23, he’s ticking all the T20 boxes — future star loading! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/97lK6AR8V1
— Rafi (@rafi4999) July 21, 2025
mitchell owen you star 👏🌟 pic.twitter.com/F9rJvUbXos
— И🫧 | aneet padda’s gf (@lbdablu) July 21, 2025
Australia beat West Indies in a thrilling opening T20I 🔥#WIvAUS
Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/5gi3DI2mjH pic.twitter.com/7baFrF5JrH
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) July 21, 2025
Fifties from Mitch Owen and Cameron Green lead Australia to victory in the 1st T20I against West Indies in Jamaica ⚡️https://t.co/Avoh9uDggn pic.twitter.com/bxQnLJI4ES
— ICC (@ICC) July 21, 2025
The FUTURE is here.
Cameron Green and Mitch Owen both scored Fifty and had the partnership of 80 runs in diffucult condition. pic.twitter.com/CXbH5m31QK— 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 🦘🇦🇺 (@AdvocateMessi) July 21, 2025
Cameron Green has played brilliantly in the last few games. Important half-century on a tough Grenada pitch, runs in the low-scoring Jamaica Test and now a fifty in the 1st T20I.#WIvAUS
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) July 21, 2025
Cameron Green has announced himself back into the T20 cricket 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/iQVdjVbvZV
— Brevis FC (@BraveStorm17) July 21, 2025
Cameron Green – 51(26)
Mitchell Owen – 50(27)
6s – 17
4s – 6AUSTRALIA BEAT WEST INDIES IN THE FIRST T20I MATCH BY 3 WICKETS.!!! pic.twitter.com/1Eko5pP9ti
— MANU. (@IMManu_18) July 21, 2025
