Chris Gayle hit 67 off 38 balls as the West Indies sealed a six-wicket win over Australia in the third Twenty20 international in St Lucia on Monday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in their five-match series.
Chasing a modest 142 for victory after Moises Henriques (33) and Ashton Turner (24) put on Australia's first half-century stand of the series, West Indies got home in style thanks to Gayle's blitzkrieg that included seven sixes.
It was the 41-year-old's first T20 half-century since 2016 after barely featuring in the shortest format for the national team in recent years.
In case you needed a reminder of what Gayle Force weather looked like today! #WIvAUS #MissionMaroon pic.twitter.com/PxsRzfiCi8
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 13, 2021
Skipper Nicholas Pooran, standing in for the injured Kieron Pollard, was unbeaten on 32.
"It's a great journey. I'm so happy and so pleased to get a series win. I just want to commend stand-in captain Pooran for winning a fantastic series against a great team," Gayle said.
"You all knew I was struggling with the bat and to be able to get some runs was pleasing."
Australia won the toss and opted to bat first and had made a steady start before opener Matthew Wade (23) was bowled by Obed McCoy and Mitchell Marsh (nine) was trapped leg-before by Fabian Allen as the visitors reached 72-2 in 10 overs.
Leg-spinner Hayden Walsh then dismissed Alex Carey (13) and skipper Aaron Finch (30) in the 12th over to leave Australia in trouble at 80-4 but Henriques and Turner staged a recovery.
The duo put on 59 runs for the fifth wicket before Henriques was caught at deep mid-wicket by Allen off Dwayne Bravo in the last over and Turner was run out.
Reuters