Australia defeated West Indies by eight wickets on Saturday to go to the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals. David Warner hit an unbeaten 89.
Australia chased down 158 in 16.2 overs in Abu Dhabi, riding a 124-run second-wicket partnership between Warner and Mitchell Marsh (53) to draw level with Group 1 leaders England on eight points.
Earlier, although captain Kieron Pollard’s 44, Josh Hazlewood claimed four wickets to hold West Indies to 157 for seven in the penultimate Super 12 match for both sides.
In his undefeated 18 off seven balls, Andre Russell closed the innings with two sixes against Mitchell Starc.
In an opening partnership of 30 off 14 balls, openers Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle attacked the Australian fast bowlers, smashing them all over the place.
Lewis hit three consecutive home runs against Hazlewood.
Gayle struck two sixes, one-off Pat Cummins before the spinner forced him to slice a ball onto the stumps.
The 42-year-old West Indian legend hit 15 off nine balls and strolled back to a rousing ovation and embraces from his teammates, perhaps for the final time in national colors.
Hazlewood returned with a bang, dismissing Nicholas Pooran and Roston Chase for naught in the space of three deliveries to put the West Indies on the verge of collapse at 35-3.
Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer, who combined for 27 points, came back with a 35-point alliance, but Adam Zampa’s leg-spin broke the tie.
Lewis was sentenced to 29 years in prison.
West Indies must win to remain in the top eight in the global rankings and secure a spot in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup in Australia next year.
David Warner, Aaron Finch (captain), Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard (capt), Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Hayden Walsh, Akeal Hosein (wk), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard (capt), Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Hayden Walsh, Akeal Hosein