West Indies stroll to Twenty20 victory over Australia

Charles hits 57 to end 16-year drought against home side Down Under.

BRISBANE: Johnson Charles smacked a half-century and helped West Indies win their first match in 16 years against Australia at home in any format yesterday.

The tourists strolled to victory by 27 runs in Brisbane.

Charles, coming off his maiden One-Day International century, struck 57 off 35 balls to propel the tourists to an imposing first innings total of 191 after captain Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to bat at the Gabba.

Australia’s Adam Voges blasted a swashbuckling 51 off 33 balls to give them hope of reeling in the total, but paceman Kieron Pollard and spinner Sunil Narine combined for five quick wickets to make sure the hosts’ chase came to a crashing halt.

The emphatic victory against a second-string Australia side ensured West Indies finished their tour Down Under on a high, having dismally surrendered the preceding one-day series 5-0.

“We are world (Twenty20) champions so we had to play like that,” said man-of-the-match Pollard.

“We had a good score on the board and we just had to try to defend it. We are happy to sign off in style.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2013.