The West Indies beat Australia by six wickets in the third Twenty20 international in St Lucia on Monday (July 12), taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Chris Gayle scored 67 off 38 balls.
West Indies chased down a modest 142 for win after Moises Henriques (33) and Ashton Turner (24) put together Australia’s first half-century stand of the series, and Gayle’s assault, which included seven sixes, saw them home in style.
It was the 41-year-first old’s half-century in T20 cricket since 2016, after hardly appearing for the national squad in the shorter format in recent years.
Nicholas Pooran, who was filling in for the ailing Kieron Pollard, went undefeated with 32.
“It’s been a fantastic adventure. I’m overjoyed and relieved to have won the series. I simply want to congratulate stand-in skipper Pooran on a wonderful series victory over a formidable opponent “Gayle remarked.
“You all knew I was having trouble with the bat, so getting some runs was satisfying.”
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Australia made a solid start before opener Matthew Wade (23) and Mitchell Marsh (nine) were bowled by Obed McCoy and Fabian Allen, respectively, as the visitors reached 72-2 in 10 overs.
In the 12th over, leg-spinner Hayden Walsh removed Alex Carey (13) and skipper Aaron Finch (30), leaving Australia at 80-4, but Henriques and Turner rallied.
Before Henriques was caught at deep mid-wicket by Allen off Dwayne Bravo in the final over and Turner was run out, the pair put up 59 runs for the fifth wicket.