West Indies team dances to celebrate victory over Australia
All-round West Indies booked spot in the ICC World Twenty20 final with a crushing 74-run victory over Australia in the second semi-final at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Friday.
Powered by the swashbuckling unbeaten half-century from Chris Gayle (75 off 41) and Kieron Pollard’s fireworks (38 off 15), West Indies posted the highest total of the fourth edition of T20 World Cup – 205-4.
The gigantic target remained beyond Australia’s approach as they capitulated for 131 inside 17 overs.
West Indies will face hosts Sri Lanka, who defeated Pakistan in the semi-final at the same venue on Thursday, in the final.
Paceman Ravi Rampaul (3-16), part-time bowler Marlon Samuels (2-6) and spin duo Samuels Badree (2-27), Sunil Narine (2-17) all were responsible in Australia’s calamity.
Barring skipper George Bailey (63 off 29), no batsman was able to reach 20-mark. Shane Watson (1), David Warner (7), Cameron White (5), Michael Hussey (18), David Hussey (0) and Matthew Wade (1) failed to offer the resistance.
Earlier, Gayle pummeled the hapless Australian bowling with blistering hitting all over the park and hit half-dozen sixes and five boundaries in his sparkling vigil.
In this process Gayle also completed his 200-runs in tournament. He also became the highest six slammer of the event with 16 maximums.
Pollard smashed three successive sixes off Xavier Doherty in the final over as West Indies clobbered 25 runs in the concluding over. The off-spinner leaked 48 runs in the three overs.
Hitting three boundaries and as many sixes on his way, Pollard holed out to David Warner at boundary in the last ball of the innings.
Opening the innings steadily, Chris Gayle lost his fellow-Jamaican Johnson Charles (10) early in the innings but gaining the momentum gradually, shared a quick-fire 41-run second-wicket stand with Marlon Samuels (26).
After Samuels’ departure, Gayle found another helpful partner in the visage of comeback-man Dwayne Bravo (37 off 31) and stitched up 83-run in his company to ensure a competitive total.
Dwayne, who replaced his injured brother Darren in squad, hit three sixes and a four before holing out to Australia skipper George Bailey off Cummins.
