NEW DELHI:
Nathan Coulter-Nile led a remarkable Australian fightback in the World Cup match against West Indies with a magnificent knock of 92 off 60 balls on Thursday.
Scorecard | World Cup Schedule | Points TableCoulter-Nile, who hit eight fours and four sixes, in fact, became the highest run scorer by a number eight batsman in World Cup history. He eclipsed Zimbabwean Heath Streak's unbeaten 72 in 2003. This was his maiden fifty in his 29th ODI. His previous highest was a 34 last year.
Coulter-Nile fell short of three runs to record the all-time ODI high score by a No 8 - 95 not out by England's Chris Woakes.
Asked to bat first on a flat pitch at Trent Bridge, champions Australia got off to a terrible start as they were reduced to 79/5 before Coulter-Nile (92) and
Steve Smith (73) staged a rescue act with a 102-run stand for the seventh wicket to post a competitive 288 all out.
Wicketkeeper batsman Alex Carey chipped in with a 55-ball 45, which was studded with five boundaries, for an invaluable 68-run stand for the sixth wicket with Smith to resurrect the Australian innings before Coulter-Nile played the innings of his life.
For West Indies, who had a four-pronged pace attack, Carlos Brathwaite was the most successful bowler with 3/67 while his fast bowling colleagues Oshane Thomas, Sheldon Cottrell and Andre Russell took two wickets apiece.