Australia humble Windies as hosts bow out

GROS ISLET - Australia knocked hosts the West Indies out of the World Twenty20 and kept alive the possibility of an Anglo-Australian final with a dominating six-wicket win here on Tuesday.

West Indies, in a match they had to win by 24 runs to reach the semi-finals, was bowled out for just 105 at the Beausejour Stadium. Australia, in reply, lost two wickets on 31.

But Brad Haddin (42) saw Australia to the verge of victory before he got out with two runs needed to West Indies captain Chris Gayle.

The occasional off-spinner then ended the match with a ball that went for five wides, a delivery that summed up his team’s performance on the day.

Australia, who finished on 109 for four, won with 22 balls to spare. Their win ensured Sri Lanka, last year’s losing finalists, also went through to the semi-finals as Group F runners-up.

England will play Sri Lanka, who earlier Tuesday knocked out India with a five-wicket win, in the first semi-final here on Thursday. The second semi-final will see Australia playing defending champions Pakistan, also at Beausejour, on Friday. The final takes place at Barbados’s Kensington Oval on Sunday. (ANI)