Chris Gayle's first T20 International half-century in six years paced the West Indies to a series-clinching six-wicket victory over Australia in the third fixture of their five-match series at the Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia on Monday.
Chasing a modest target of 142 after the tourists struggled yet again with the bat, Gayle recaptured his most destructive form in smashing seven sixes and four fours in racing to 67 off only 38 balls to take his team to the target and a 3-0 lead in the series.
He also sent an ominous warning to all opponents that the 41-year-old could yet be a factor in the Caribbean side's defence of the World T20 title in three months' time.
Gayle's pyrotechnics followed another efficient West Indies performance in the field, as wrist-spinner Hayden Walsh again presented the most effective challenge to the Australians, with figures of two for 18 in limiting the visitors to 141 for six.
All-rounder Moises Henriques topscored with 33 and struck the only two sixes of his team’s innings, the first coming off the final delivery of the 16th over.
Scoreboard
Scoreboard of the third T20 International of the five-match series between the West Indies and Australia at the Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia on Monday:
Australia Innings
M. Wade b McCoy 23
A. Finch c Allen b Walsh 30
M. Marsh lbw Allen 9
A. Carey c Simmons b Walsh 13
M. Henriques c Allen b Bravo 33
A. Turner run out 24
D. Christian not out 1
Extras (lb-1, w-7) 8
Total (20 overs, 6wkts) 141
Fall of wickets: 1-41 (Wade), 2-58 (Marsh), 3-79 (Carey), 4-80 (Finch), 5-139 (Henriques), 6-141 (
Did not bat: M. Starc, A. Zampa, R. Meredith, J. Hazlewood
Bowling: S. Cottrell 4-0-32-0 (3w), A. Russell 3-0-29-0 (2w), O. McCoy 1-0-9-1 (1w), D. Bravo 3-0-17-1 (1w), F. Allen 4-0-26-1, H. Walsh 4-0-18-2, C. Gayle 1-0-9-0
West Indies Innings
A.Fletcher c Marsh b Starc 4
L. Simmons c Starc b Meredith 15
C. Gayle c wkpr Wade b Meredith 67
N. Pooran not out 32
D. Bravo c Zampa b Meredith 7
A. Russell not out 7
Extras (lb-4, nb-1, w-5) 10
Total (14.5 overs, 4 wkts) 142
Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Fletcher), 2-42 (Simmons), 3-109 (Gayle), 4-124 (Bravo)
Did not bat: S. Hetmyer, F. Allen, H. Walsh, S. Cottrell, O. McCoy
Bowling: M. Starc 4-0-15-1 (1w), J. Hazlewood 3-0-33-0, R. Meredith 3.5-0-48-3 (3w, 1nb), A. Zampa 3-0-34-0 (1w), M. Marsh 1-0-8-0
Result: West Indies won by six wickets
Toss: Australia
Umpires: Gregory Brathwaite (BAR), Joel Wilson (TRI)