World champion West Indies beat understrength Australia by 27 runs in one-off T20

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BRISBANE, Australia — Johnson Charles set West Indies on course for a big total and Kieron Pollard took three late wickets to guide the Twenty20 world champion to a 27-run win over an understrength Australia in a one-off match on Wednesday.

Charles scored 57 from 35 balls and shared an 88-run second-wicket stand with Darren Bravo — 32 from 27 balls — as West Indies posted 191-6. Pollard (26) and Andre Russell, who was unbeaten on 23 from 11 deliveries, contributed as the visitors plundered 48 runs from the last three overs.

With Australia’s 17-man test squad already in India, the second-string lineup was always under pressure despite a recent 5-0 ODI series sweep against West Indies.

They were on track during a 74-run, second-wicket partnership between Adam Voges (51) and Shaun Marsh (21) before both were run out within four balls as Australia dropped from 79-1 to finish at 164-8 after 20 overs.

Marsh was caught short by Tino Best at cover and Voges was run out at the striker’s end attempting to run through for a bye in the next over.

Brad Haddin revived the innings with 22 from 11 balls, including two sixes and a four on three consecutive deliveries, before he was caught off Pollard’s bowling to make the total 121-5 in the 15th over.

Pollard (3-30) killed off any late revival when he dismissed Ben Rohrer (16) and James Faulkner (7) on consecutive balls in the 17th over as Australia slumped to 139-7.

West Indies finished the tour with the victory after a disappointing ODI campaign.

Australia’s four-test series in India starts next week.

08:03ET 13-02-13