A blistering Chris Gayle unbeaten half-century and a
15-ball cameo by Kieron Pollard helped West Indies storm into the final
of the World Twenty20 with an emphatic 74-run victory over Australia in
the second semi-final in Colombo on Friday.
Chasing a daunting 206, Australia were bowled out for 131 in 16.4 overs after Gayle (41-ball 74) and Pollard (38) blitzed their opponents almost into submission.
They will meet hosts Sri Lanka in Sunday's mouth-watering final. It will be the first for the once mighty Caribbean in 29 years, though they had made the final in the Champions Trophy in 2004.
The West Indian bowlers ran through their top-order to send the Aussies plummeting to 64-6 after 10 overs.
Skipper George Bailey scored a valiant 29-ball 63—the fastest half-century of the match.
The ploy to unsettle the Australians with spin, as happened in their last Super Eight game against Pakistan, again proved their Achilles ' heel.
The West Indies made a dream start when leg-spinner Samuel Badree removed David Warner (1) in the first over. He also dismissed Shane Watson who was bowled for seven a couple of overs later.
In between Marlon Samuels caught and bowled dangerous Michael Hussey (18).
Paceman Ravi Rampaul started with a double-wicket over that claimed Cameron White and David Hussey, who was caught by the bowler off a well-directed short ball.
He finished the match by bowling Mitchell Starc to return impressive figures of three for 16.
Mystery spinner Sunil Narine then induced Mathew Wade into a top-edge sweep into waiting arms of Badree at short long leg.
Narine later accounted for Brad Hogg.
Pollard followed up his batting antics also with a double-wicket over that included Bailey.
Gayle's unbeaten half-century set West Indies up for an imposing total of 205 for four in 20 overs after they won the toss.
The destructive left-hander after a watchful start got into his stride hitting a couple of lusty sixes off slow left-arm bowler Doherty's first over that went for 13 runs.
He reached his fifty off 29 balls.
West Indies lost the early wicket of opener Johnson Charles (10), who was caught behind slashing a short delivery from Starc.
Gayle and Marlon Samuels then responded with a 41-run second-wicket stand but Pat Cummins broke the partnership with a slower delivery that clean bowled the aggressive right-hander for 26.
Dwayne Bravo (37) and Gayle then were involved in an 83-run third-wicket onslaught that ended after the former was caught by the Australian skipper standing at extra cover off Cummins.
But Gayle and Pollard clobbered 25 runs in the final over bowled by Doherty to rub salt into their wounds before Pollard fell.
Chasing a daunting 206, Australia were bowled out for 131 in 16.4 overs after Gayle (41-ball 74) and Pollard (38) blitzed their opponents almost into submission.
They will meet hosts Sri Lanka in Sunday's mouth-watering final. It will be the first for the once mighty Caribbean in 29 years, though they had made the final in the Champions Trophy in 2004.
The West Indian bowlers ran through their top-order to send the Aussies plummeting to 64-6 after 10 overs.
Skipper George Bailey scored a valiant 29-ball 63—the fastest half-century of the match.
The ploy to unsettle the Australians with spin, as happened in their last Super Eight game against Pakistan, again proved their Achilles ' heel.
The West Indies made a dream start when leg-spinner Samuel Badree removed David Warner (1) in the first over. He also dismissed Shane Watson who was bowled for seven a couple of overs later.
In between Marlon Samuels caught and bowled dangerous Michael Hussey (18).
Paceman Ravi Rampaul started with a double-wicket over that claimed Cameron White and David Hussey, who was caught by the bowler off a well-directed short ball.
He finished the match by bowling Mitchell Starc to return impressive figures of three for 16.
Mystery spinner Sunil Narine then induced Mathew Wade into a top-edge sweep into waiting arms of Badree at short long leg.
Narine later accounted for Brad Hogg.
Pollard followed up his batting antics also with a double-wicket over that included Bailey.
Gayle's unbeaten half-century set West Indies up for an imposing total of 205 for four in 20 overs after they won the toss.
The destructive left-hander after a watchful start got into his stride hitting a couple of lusty sixes off slow left-arm bowler Doherty's first over that went for 13 runs.
He reached his fifty off 29 balls.
West Indies lost the early wicket of opener Johnson Charles (10), who was caught behind slashing a short delivery from Starc.
Gayle and Marlon Samuels then responded with a 41-run second-wicket stand but Pat Cummins broke the partnership with a slower delivery that clean bowled the aggressive right-hander for 26.
Dwayne Bravo (37) and Gayle then were involved in an 83-run third-wicket onslaught that ended after the former was caught by the Australian skipper standing at extra cover off Cummins.
But Gayle and Pollard clobbered 25 runs in the final over bowled by Doherty to rub salt into their wounds before Pollard fell.
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