Australia Triumphs with a Record 259 Balls Left with 8 Wickets in Third ODI

Australia comfortably defeated West Indies by eight wickets in a dominant display at Manuka Oval. Xavier Bartlett continued his impressive international career, taking four wickets, while Lance Morris unfortunately had to retire due to a side strain injury.

The Australian openers, Josh Inglis and Jake Fraser-McGurk, quickly chased down the low target of 86 runs, reaching Australia's fastest team 50 in men's ODIs since 2002 within just five overs. Their victory with 43.1 overs to spare set a new record for the shortest men's ODI played in Australia, with the match completed in just 31 overs and three hours. 

Bartlett's impressive performance of 4 for 21 led to West Indies' embarrassing collapse, as they were bowled out for a mere 86 runs in just 24.1 overs. This marked their fifth lowest ODI score. Meanwhile, Australia, playing their 1000th ODI and becoming the second nation to achieve this milestone after India, displayed near-perfection after their comprehensive wins in Melbourne and Sydney.

Inglis showcased his skills by swiftly scoring 22 runs off seven deliveries with elegant orthodox shots. However, his momentum was quickly overshadowed by Fraser-McGurk, who displayed his power-hitting abilities by smashing three sixes in four balls off seamer Matthew Forde.

Fraser-McGurk seemed on track for a rapid half-century, but unfortunately got caught at mid-on, ending his innings at 41 runs off just 18 balls. This dismissal dashed Australia's hopes for a 10-wicket victory. Aaron Hardie contributed only two runs before Australia reached the target in just 6.5 overs.

With this win, Australia extended their winning streak to 12 consecutive victories in the 50-over format. However, their success was also aided by a lackluster performance from the West Indies, with several batsmen getting dismissed in a rather tame manner.

Australia faced some challenges during the match, particularly with Morris, who had to leave the field due to a left side strain. This added to the absence of Matthew Short and a rested Josh Hazlewood. Morris will undergo a scan and anxiously await the results before Australia's upcoming tour of New Zealand.

In terms of strategy, Steven Smith chose to bowl first despite the gloomy weather conditions. Bartlett, who had made an impressive debut at the MCG, continued to perform well with the new ball. He quickly dismissed opener Kjorn Ottley, securing an lbw in his second over.

Australia's captain, Smith, along with Inglis, successfully completed the task in the seventh over, comfortably achieving the target with 259 balls remaining.

With this victory, Australia has encreased their winning streak to 12 consecutive ODIs. The team's focus now shifts towards the upcoming T20 series against the West Indies, commencing in Hobart on Friday evening.