David Warner and Mitchell Marsh’s 124-run stand for the second wicket helped Australia beat West Indies by eight wickets in their T20 World Cup Group 1 clash in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

After being put to bat first, West Indies rode on Kieron Pollard’s combative 31-ball 44 to put on a fighting 157 for 7 against Australia.

In reply, Australia were off to a flying start courtesy of David Warner (89 not out off 56 balls). Aaron Finch (9 off 11 balls) and David Warner put on 33 runs for the opening wicket, before the Australian skipper chopped one onto his stumps of the bowling of Akeal Hosein (1/29).

The departure of Finch didn’t bother Warner much on the other end. The left-handed, swashbuckling batter looked in great touch and took West Indies’ best bowler Hosein for a six and a four. Australia ended the powerplay with the scoreboard reading 53/1.

Mitchell Marsh (53 off 32 balls) played to his strength and matched Warner with a big six of Hosein. Meanwhile, Warner completed his second half-century of the tournament in just 29 balls.

Marsh completed his half-century in just 28 balls, including five fours and two sixes.

The duo off Warner and Marsh put on 124 runs for the second wicket.

Australia chased down the target in 16.1 overs with 8 wickets in the shed.

Earlier, Australia were taken to the cleaners by Windies opener Evin Lewis, who smashed Josh Hazlewood for a hattrick of fours en route to his 26-ball 29.

Chris Gayle made a nine-ball 15 in what seemed his last International appearance.

On a batting-friendly wicket that aided true pace and bounce, the struggling defending champions finally got their rhythm back.

Australia got three wickets for five runs but the Windies kept firing with Pollard holding the innings together.

Pollard slammed one six an four fours while Shimron Hetmyer (27) and Dwyane Bravo, who made a 12-ball 10 in his final International outing, also made useful contributions.

Finally it was Andre Russell who finished it off with two sixes (18 not out from seven balls) to prop the total as the Windies put on 58 runs in the final five overs.

For the Aussies, Hazlewood was brilliant, returning with 4/39 as he bounced back brilliantly after being hit for 20 in his first over.

Australia would have to wait for the result of South Africa later in the day as the two teams are fighting for the second spot from Group 1.

The match also had some significance for the ousted two-time world champions as a win would ensure a direct qualification to ‘Super 12’ for the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.

According to the ICC T20 rankings predictor, if the Windies lose they would drop to number nine and hence would not get a direct qualification.

It was an emotional match for the two legendary West Indians — Bravo and Gayle.

Bravo’s one final innings in International cricket was over when he departed after getting caught at long-on.

Bravo was hugged by Pollard on his way out as Russell and others too gave him a standing ovation, while Gayle also gave him an emotional hug in the dugout.

It’s not official yet, but the Windies great was seen waving at the camera and raised his bat after crossing the rope as he was also seen distributing his cricketing gears to the fans in the stands.

Fresh from his career-best performance of 5/19, leg-spinner Adam Zampa dismissed the well-set Lewis in the 10th over with a googly when the left-hander hit a skier only to be taken by Steve Smith at long-with a superb catch.