End of an era!

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (CMC):

THE SUN set on the glittering careers of veteran superstars Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, but Australia spoiled their emotional farewell by inflicting them with a chastening eight-wicket defeat, as West Indies wrapped up their dismal campaign at the Twenty20 World Cup here yesterday.

Australia honoured the duo with a guard of honour after David Warner’s dominant unbeaten 89 had orchestrated his side’s successful chase of 158 with 22 balls to spare, condemning the deposed champions to their fourth defeat in five matches and a lowly fifth place in Group One.

However, the charitable gesture by the Aussies did little to obscure the pall of gloom engulfing the Caribbean side, the tournament representing one of their worst-ever outings at a T20 World Cup.

While Bravo announced his international retirement three days ago, Gayle remained mum until revealing in a post-match interview he would play one last game for West Indies in his native Jamaica before bowing out.

“I didn’t announce any retirement, but they actually give me one (more) game in Jamaica in front of my home crowd and then I can say ‘hey guys, thank you so much’,” said the 42-year-old Gayle, whose decline in form has been startling.

“If not, I would’ve announced it (retirement) long time. I would’ve been joining DJ Bravo in the back end in saying thanks to each and everyone, but I can’t say that just yet.”

POOR SHOWING

Clearly now devoid of his invincibility, Gayle managed only 15 as West Indies rallied to 157 for seven off their 20 overs after being sent in, captain Kieron Pollard hitting a top score of 44 off 31 deliveries with four fours and a six, with Evin Lewis (29) and Shimron Hetmyer (27) producing support knocks.

New-ball seamer Josh Hazlewood finished with four for 39, taking two of the three wickets to fall in the first power play as West Indies struggled early on.

In reply, Australia lost captain Aaron Finch for nine, cutting left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein on to his stumps in the fourth over at 33 for one.

But Warner carved out nine fours and four sixes in a 124-run, second-wicket stand with Mitchell Marsh (53) to erase any doubt over the result.

For his part, Marsh struck five fours and two sixes in a 32-ball stay, before tapping the final ball of Gayle’s only over to Jason Holder at cover with scores level.

“I think overall it has been a disappointing campaign all-round,” said a dejected Pollard.

“In terms of our batting, we have not lived up to expectations. We have not done well at all when it comes to that. The bowling has been decent but it has not been good enough because we have not gotten over the line and we could have done better in our fielding as well.

“Having said that, it’s the end of a generation, an era. This is an opportunity for us to think about what some of the guys in our dressing room would have done for West Indies cricket over a generation in the last 10 years or so.”

SCOREBOARD

C Gayle b Cummins 15

E Lewis c Smith b Zampa 29

+N Pooran c Marsh b Hazlewood 4

R Chase b Hazlewood 0

S Hetmyer c wkp Wade b Hazlewood 27

*K Pollard c Maxwell b Starc 44

DJ Bravo c Warner b Hazlewood 10

A Russell not out 18

J Holder not out 1

Extras (lb6, w3) 9

TOTAL (7 wkts, 20 overs) 157

Did not bat: H Walsh, A Hosein

Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Gayle), 2-35 (Pooran), 3-35 (Chase), 4-70 (Lewis), 5-91 (Hetmyer), 6-126 (DJ Bravo), 7-143 (Pollard)

Bowling: Starc 4-0-33-1 (w1), Hazlewood 4-0-39-4 (w1), Cummins 4-0-37-1, Maxwell 1-0-6-0, Marsh 3-0-16-0, Zampa 4-0-20-1 (w1)

AUSTRALIA

D Warner not out 89

*A Finch b Hosein 9

M Marsh c Holder b Gayle 53

G Maxwell not out 0

Extras (lb3, w6, nb1) 10

TOTAL (2 wkts, 16.2 overs) 161

Did not bat: S Smith, M Stoinis, +M Wade, Pat Cummins, M Starc, A Zampa, J Hazlewood

Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Finch), 2-157 (Marsh)

Bowling: Hosein 4-0-29-1, Chase 1.2-0-17-0 (nb1), Holder 2-0-26-0 (w1), DJ Bravo 4-0-36-0 (w3), Walsh 2-0-18-0, Russell 2-0-25-0, Gayle 1-0-7-0-1 (w2).

Result: Australia won by eight wickets.

Points: Australia 2, West Indies 0.

Man-of-the-Match: David Warner.

Toss: Australia.

Umpires: Langton Rusere, Richard Illingworth; TV – Aleem Dar.