After losing the first two matches, West Indies was on the brink of a series defeat. In desperation, they set a towering target for Australia. Despite all the glitz and glamour of T20 batting, chasing 215 runs is still a daunting task. But that Everest-like total seemed like a mere bump in the road for Australia — thanks to a destructive innings by Tim David, who stormed to his maiden T20 international century off just 37 balls, making history in the process.
Riding on his monstrous knock, Australia chased down the 215-run target with 23 balls to spare, securing the series win with two matches still in hand. The 2021 T20 World Champions had found themselves in serious trouble early in the chase, losing 4 wickets for just 87 runs by the ninth over. That’s when the “David Show” began.
Tim David partnered with debutant Mitchell Owen for a game-changing fifth-wicket stand, adding 128 runs in just 46 balls. What Owen did was impressive too. In fact, without David’s heroics overshadowing him, his innings would have stood out — 36 runs off just 16 balls, including 3 sixes and 2 fours. But when your partner smashes 11 sixes and 3 fours, your knock is bound to seem modest in comparison.
David eventually completed his century in just 37 balls, breaking the record for the fastest T20I century by an Australian. The previous record belonged to Josh Inglis, who had scored a century off 43 balls against Scotland in Edinburgh just last year. Not only did David surpass that, but he also reached his half-century in just 16 balls — the fastest fifty by any Australian in T20 internationals.
This was Tim David’s first international T20 century. Interestingly, earlier in the match, West Indies batter Shai Hope also recorded his maiden T20I century, remaining unbeaten on 102 off 57 balls. His opening partner Brandon King supported him well, scoring 62 off 36 balls. Together, they built a 125-run opening partnership.
Thanks to that explosive start, West Indies posted a commanding 214 runs and likely felt quite satisfied during the innings break. But their joy was short-lived. Tim David’s stormy innings not only snatched the match away but also sealed the series. His prior experience in the Caribbean Premier League came in handy — and to add salt to the wound, he used a Caribbean player’s bat to wreak havoc. It was as if West Indies had unknowingly nurtured a snake with milk and bananas, only to be bitten by it later!
