‘It’s the end of a generation’
"Felt satisfying to be there at the end. The key was to play my natural game. DJ [Bravo] has been a benchmark for all players coming through, and Chris (Gayle), he's someone I look up to."
David Warner smashed an unbeaten 89 as Australia hammered West Indies by eight wickets to edge closer to the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup on Saturday with skipper Aaron Finch describing the opener as a "super player."
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Chasing 158 for victory, Australia rode on a 124-run second-wicket stand between Warner and Mitchell Marsh to romp home in 16.2 overs in Abu Dhabi and go level with Group 1 leaders England on eight points.
Marsh, who hit 53 of 32 balls, got out to Chris Gayle who celebrated the wicket in what was his likely swansong in West Indies colours.
Warner scored his second half-century of this edition and hit the winning boundary as Australia finished with four wins from their five Super 12 matches.
"The way (David) managed his innings, got off to a flyer and allowed Mitch Marsh to get into his innings," said skipper Aaron Finch.
"He's been a super player for a long time. Can't understand why people doubted him."
Finch added: "We have to wait for the South Africa-England game and keep our fingers crossed. I'm sure someone will be streaming it. If it doesn't go our way we can hold our head high that we won four out of five."
Earlier Josh Hazlewood took four wickets to keep West Indies down to 157 for seven despite skipper Kieron Pollard's 44.
Reigning champions West Indies failed to give a winning farewell to Dwayne Bravo, who played his last international.
Australia gave Bravo and Gayle a guard of honour after Warner hit the winning runs.
"It's the end of a generation, we have some guys who have done good things for T20 cricket in our team and around the world," said Pollard.
"We as people are very proud....we have to look at the way we play T20 cricket." Warner unsettled the West Indian attack with boundaries all around the park despite losing opening partner inch for nine. Marsh was equally punishing of the bowlers as he hit five fours and two sixes in his fifth T20 fifty.
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