Ruthless Aussies cruise to series win to stay unbeaten

The result: West Indies 9-97 (Cooper 39, Henry 21*; Jonassen 2-19) lost to Australia 1-98 (Healy 58*, Lanning 22*; Fletcher 1-13) by nine wickets with 33 balls remaining 

The match in a tweet: That's it! Australia seal a T20I series win, home by nine wickets as the in-form Alyssa Healy finishes unbeaten on 58.

The series: Australia’s victory seals a fourth consecutive bilateral T20 series win for Meg Lanning’s team as they take an unassailable 2-0 with a match remaining.

The hero: Alyssa Healy’s love affair with the Caribbean continued as she struck a 43-ball 58no, her fourth 50+ score from five innings on this limited-overs tour. The target was low but with wet weather threatening, a fast start was crucial for Australia and that’s exactly what Healy provided, striking three boundaries from the first over. She reached a half-century from 33 deliveries, her ninth in the format and seventh in the past 12 months. 

The support acts: The Windies’ collapse was equal parts triggered by excellent bowling and fielding from Australia, and disappointing batting from the hosts. Left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen’s good run continued as she picked up 2-19 from four overs, while the economical bowling of Ashleigh Gardner (1-12), Megan Schutt (1-17) and Georgia Wareham (1-17) – whose sharp fielding also conjured a run out – ensured relentless pressure on the hosts.

The consolation effort: Britney Cooper displayed the sort of aggression that had been sorely lacking from the West Indies batting effort in the opening T20I, striking a 33-ball 39 before departing in seriously unlucky circumstances. Cooper struck six fours and one maximum in her knock, which had the Australians on the back foot early before her dismissal – run out at the non-strikers end when bowler Gardner got a fingertip on a powerful straight drive – triggered a collapse.

The collapse: Thanks to Cooper, the Windies were travelling nicely at 1-47 before the wheels fell off. First, captain and star batter Stafanie Taylor (6) tried to go over the top but only found Beth Mooney at mid-on, handing Wareham a wicket. Cooper’s unfortunate dismissal followed as the wickets started to tumble. A disastrous mix-up found King and Natasha McLean (0) at the same end of the pitch as Healy whipped off the bails at the other, before King (2), Reniece Boyce (0) all fell in quick succession as the Windies lost 6-17.

The injury: Windies quick Chinelle Henry has been one of the few bright points for the injury-depleted hosts, both for her new-ball bowling – she removed both Aussie openers in a career-best 2-15 in the first T20 - and for her aggressive lower-order hitting. So it was a sorry sight to see her stretchered off after injuring her left knee while bowling early in the Australian chase. It was a tough blow for the hosts who are already without six frontline players in the injured Deandra Dottin, Chedean Nation, Shemaine Campbelle, Shakera Selman and Kycia Knight, and the suspended Hayley Matthews.

The toss: There was no wiping the grin off Australia captain Meg Lanning’s face as she correctly called 'heads' for the first time since arriving in the Caribbean. Lanning’s poor record at the toss has become a running joke on this tour but luck finally fell in her favour after three unsuccessful attempts. However, the toss from rival skipper Taylor added to the drama, with the coin rolling on its side for several anxious moments before settling.

The next stop: Australia and the West Indies will meet again in two days’ time with the third and final T20I to be played at the same venue on Wednesday from 7pm local time (9am Thursday AEST). Fans in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea can stream the series live and free on cricket.com.au and the CA Live App, while fans elsewhere can watch on the West Indies Cricket YouTube channel.

West Indies XI: Stafanie Taylor (c), Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Britney Cooper, Kyshona Knight, Natasha McLean, Reniece Boyce (wk), Shabika Gajnabi, Shamilia Connell, Sheneta Grimmond, Stacy Ann King

Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Erin Burns, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt

CommBank Tour of the West Indies

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Heather Graham, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

West Indies ODI squad: Stafanie Taylor (c), Hayley Matthews (vc), Reniece Boyce, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Shamilia Connell, Stacy Ann King, Natasha McLean, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Anisa Mohammed, Karishma Ramharack, Shabika Gajnabi

One-Day Internationals*
*ICC Women's Championship matches

First ODI: Australia won by 178 runs

Second ODI: Australia won by 151 runs

Third ODI: Australia won by eight wickets

Twenty20 Internationals

First T20: Australia won by six wickets

September 16: Australia won by nine wickets

September 18: Third T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados