Gayle force lifts Windies to 205-4

Chris Gayle smashed an unbeaten 75 off 41 balls to steer the West Indies to an imposing 205-4 in the World Twenty20 semi-final against Australia in Colombo on Friday. The swashbuckling left-hander pounded six sixes and five fours after the West Indies elected to bat on what was considered a slow pitch unsuited to aggressive batting at the Premadasa stadium. All-rounder Dwayne Bravo (37) helped Gayle add 83 for the third wicket from just 51 deliveries as the Australians wilted under lights. Kieron Pollard hit 38 off 15 balls as the West Indies plundered 55 runs in the final three overs, including 25 off the last six deliveries by left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty. The winner will qualify to play against hosts Sri Lanka in Sunday's final. Gayle, who lost his opening partner Johnson Charles in the third over, plodded for nine balls to make four before swinging Shane Watson for a six over long-off. That opened the floodgates for an onslaught as Marlon Samuels and Gayle smashed Doherty for a six each in one over and Brad Hogg was greeted into the attack with another six from Samuels. Samuels contributed 26 in a second-wicket stand of 41 with Gayle when he was bowled by fast bowler Pat Cummins attempting another big hit. Gayle, who faced just 18 balls in the first 10 overs, still managed to bring up his half-century off 29 deliveries with the help of four sixes and three boundaries. Both teams had met in a preliminary league match which was washed out after Australia reached 100-1 in 9.1 overs in pursuit of the West Indies' total of 191-8. The Aussies were declared winners by 17 runs through the Duckworth-Lewis method.