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Abbott stars with all-round heroics as Aussies clinch series

The allrounder took three wickets, top-scored with 69 and added a pair of catches as the Windies slumped to an 83-run defeat

Australia v West Indies | Second ODI

Sean Abbott has produced the finest all-round performance of his international career to lead Australia to a series-clinching victory over West Indies in the second ODI in Sydney.

After being asked to bat first on Sunday on an "up and down" SCG surface that would have made their Caribbean visitors feel at home, Steve Smith's side never truly got going as they stuttered to 7-167 with 15 overs to go.

But Abbott harnessed his local knowledge with a fine rescue act, cracking his second ODI half-century in as many innings, going past his previous best of 54 in Indore last September to delight the 20,025 home NSW fans with 69 from 63 balls.

Abbott rescues Aussies with career-high 69

His four lusty blows to clear the rope at long on, including two in a row off Romario Shepherd in the penultimate over, lifted Australia to 9-258, a total that they could have only dreamed of 20 overs earlier when he strode to the crease.

Abbott then struck early in the Windies chase, returning midway through the innings to add another to his tally to help roll the visitors for 175 and wrap up a comfortable 83-run win and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

His final wicket came courtesy of a stunning Cameron Green catch at mid-wicket.

Green's Inspector Gadget arms reel in another stunner

"We were in a bit of trouble there, but we knew the way the wicket was playing that if we got anything over 220, we'd be competitive," Abbott told Fox Cricket during Australia's bowling innings.

"The situation we were in, we were forced to keep it quite simple for a little while there.

"It's a bit of a slow wicket … getting to (258) we through was quite a competitive total."

Abbott's day out continues with three wickets, two catches

The 31-year-old right-hander was entrusted with the No.8 position ahead of Will Sutherland on debut and boosted his one-day international average to 21, putting him between Andy Bichel (20.47) and Tom Moody (23.28) as comparative bowling allrounders for Australia.

Aaron Hardie shared the new ball with star seamer Josh Hazlewood (3-43) and the West Australian allrounder made an impact with the first West Indies wicket of the evening. He made 26 with the bat after not being required with either in the first ODI two days prior.

When Hazlewood removed visiting captain Shai Hope (29) and Abbott the other set batter Keacy Carty (40), the game was effectively done.

Abbott capped a superb night with two catches running back with the flight, one of which gave Sutherland his first international wicket.

Sutherland (2-28), Abbott (3-40) and Hazlewood combined to remove the tail in the 44th over, only Roston Chase (25) offering any further resistance as the world champions made it 11 wins on the bounce in the 50-over format.

Four, six... out! Rollercoaster start to JFM's ODI career

New opener Jake Fraser-McGurk was given first crack on debut after Hope won the toss and he wasn't going to die wondering, attempting to launch his first ball in Australian colours into orbit.

Another play and miss followed off the second, before laying bat on his third as he skipped down the wicket to Alzarri Joseph (2-74) to bring up his first boundary through mid-on.

Next ball sent the crowd into a frenzy with towering flick off his pads that sailed 94m into the Bill O'Reilly Stand before he nicked his fifth delivery through to gloveman Hope to depart for a rollercoaster 10 off five.

His whirlwind knock set a precedent for much of the Australia innings.

Laughs and hugs as Sutherland, Fraser-McGurk receive ODI caps

Cameron Green (33) left off how he finished two nights ago in Melbourne with a trio of glorious straight drives and humongous six over midwicket that bettered Fraser-McGurk's earlier hit by 10 metres.

But like Marnus Labuschagne (26), Matt Short (41) and Hardie (26) that followed, he couldn't go on with a promising start, mistiming another attempted heave over the leg side off Oshane Thomas (1-33).

That was until Abbott arrived to salvage the innings in the 29th over.

The only concern heading into Tuesday's dead-rubber in Canberra is the fitness of Short who didn't field in the second innings with a tight hamstring.

Greaves flies for 'one of the catches of the summer'

Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie (3-28) was the pick of the Windies bowlers as he and fellow tweaker Roston Chase (0-40) conceded only two boundaries between them from their 20 overs.

Hope may have wished he had been able to call on Hayden Walsh as well, with the leg-spinner left out of their XI in favour of four quicks due to the return of Joseph.

Australia made three changes to the side that won the first match of the series by eight wickets on Friday, Fraser-McGurk replacing Travis Head who was sent home to Adelaide to refresh after a gruelling World Cup into a five-Test summer.

Sutherland replaced Xavier Bartlett whose workloads are being managed after an outstanding 4-17 on debut, while Hazlewood was included for his home ODI in place of speedster Lance Morris.

Left-armer Spencer Johnson has been added to the squad as cover for the third ODI with Hazlewood to remain in Sydney.

Australia XI: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Short, Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Will Sutherland, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood. 12th: Xavier Bartlett

 

West Indies XI: Justin Greaves, Alick Athanaze, Kjorn Ottley, Shai Hope (c, wk), Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Oshane Thomas

Men's Dettol ODI Series v West Indies

February 2: Australia won by eight wickets

February 4: Australia won by 83 runs

February 6: Manuka Oval, Canberra 2.30pm AEDT

Australia ODI squad: Steve Smith (c), Travis Head (vc), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Lance Morris, Matt Short, Will Sutherland, Adam Zampa

West Indies ODI squad: Shai Hope (c), Alzarri Joseph, Alick Athanaze, Teddy Bishop, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Gudakesh Motie, Kjorn Ottley, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr.

Men's Dettol T20I Series v West Indies

February 9: Blundstone Arena, Hobart 7.00pm AEDT

February 11: Adelaide Oval, 7pm AEDT

February 13: Perth Stadium, 7pm AEDT

Australia T20I squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

West Indies T20I squad: Rovman Powell (c), Shai Hope, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas