AUSTRALIA romped past West Indies with a six wicket win in St Lucia yesterdayto seal their place in the World Twenty20 semi-finals and eliminate the hosts.
West Indies could only muster a paltry 105 all out as their skipper Chris Gayle was dismissed with the second ball of the match, and Australia knocked off the runs with more than three overs to spare. The hosts knew that a win by 24 runs or more would see them usurp Sri Lanka in Group F and clinch the first semi-final spot against England, but Gayle’s side were never in the contest as Australia set up a clash with Pakistan.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan put on 34, the highest partnership in the innings, before the squatty left-hander was dismissed by the excellent Mitchell Johnson.
A procession of wickets ensued as Johnson finished with figures of 2-22, while leg-spinner Steven Smith was denied a hat-trick in his consummate spell with the 20-year-old ending with three for 20.
The West Indies middle and lower order capitulated with just Kieron Pollard and Nikita Miller mustering double figures as Australia were set a meagre 106 runs to win at 5.52 runs per over.
David Warner went berserk from the outset as the uncompromising and belligerent left-hander gave his side a dynamic start with a 12-ball 25 before Jerome Taylor brought an abrupt end to the fun.
Shane Watson departed for just five while Michael Clarke played as if sculpting a Test match knock for his 24-ball 16 alongside the purposeful Brad Haddin.
The Australia wicket-keeper provided the required impetus to steer his side to victory with a composed 42 off 46 balls as the hosts looked to suffocate their opponents with some stifling spin bowling in the middle overs.
Sulieman Benn and Miller each completed metronomic spells for the cost of just 12 and 16 runs respectively, but David Hussey accompanied Haddin to ensure that the run-chase was not derailed.
Australia, like England in Group E, end with an unblemished record from their three Super Eight matches, and head into their semi-final with the holders Pakistan oozing with confidence.
Meanwhile, it was a desperately anti-climactic end to West Indies’ bid to take their challenge into the penultimate stage of the competition, and their insipid display ensures that Sri Lanka meet England tomorrow, and the home fans have to select an alternative allegiance. (Eurosport)
WEST INDIES
*C Gayle b Nannes 4
S Chanderpaul c D Hussey b Johnson 24
R Sarwan c Warner b D Hussey 26
D Bravo run out 6
N Deonarine c M Hussey b Smith 0
+D Ramdin c wkpr Haddin b Johnson 1
K Pollard st Haddin b Smith 13
D Sammy c and b Smith 0
J Taylor c Johnson b D Hussey 3
N Miller 10
S Benn b 9
Extras (lb4, w4, nb1) 9
TOTAL (all out, 19 overs) 105
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-39, 3-52, 4-56, 5-60, 6-77, 7-77, 8-82, 9-85.
Bowling: Nannes 3-0-19-1, Taitt 3-0-12-0, Watson 2-0-13-1, Johnson 4-0-22-2, Smith 4-0-20-3, Clarke 2-0-12-0, D Hussey 1-0-3-2.
AUSTRALIA
D Warner c Gayle b Taylor 25
S Watson b Benn 5
*M Clarke run out 16
+B Haddin c Sammy b Gayle 42
D Hussey not out 10
C White not out 0
Extras (w11) 11
TOTAL (4 wkts, 16.2 overs) 109
Did not bat: M Hussey, S Smith, M Johnson, S Taitt, D Nannes.
Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-31, 3-78, 4-104.
Bowling: Taylor 4-0-47-1, Benn 4-1-12-1, Miller 4-0-16-0, Bravo 1-0-11-0, Deonarine 2-0-15-0, Sammy 1-0-3-0, Gayle 0.2-0-5-1.
Points: Australia 2, West Indies 0.