Australia beat West Indies to reach tri-series final

Australia reached the final of the Caribbean Tri-Series with a six-wicket win over West Indies in Barbados.

Marlon Samuels’ hundred helped the hosts post 282-8 in their 50 overs, but half-centuries from Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh and a breathtaking Glenn Maxwell cameo saw Australia home with eight balls in the bank.

The Aussies will be back in Bridgetown for Sunday’s final, with South Africa and West Indies competing on Friday for the other spot.

The Windies could be without Jason Holder, who left the field with a hamstring strain after bowling two overs and had earlier called wrong at the toss.

Australia opted to bowl and struck three early blows, Mitchell Starc removing Johnson Charles fourth ball before Andre Fletcher and Darren Bravo followed inside nine overs.

At that stage West Indies were 31-3 and in trouble, but Samuels and Denesh Ramdin shared 193 for the fourth wicket, Samuels (125) completing a first one-day international ton against the Aussies and Ramdin falling nine short.

The run chase started with a stutter, Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja falling with the score on 35, but skipper Smith dropped anchor as he shared 64 with George Bailey and 122 with Marsh (79 not out) in compiling a sensible 78.

The captain’s run-out brought Maxwell to the crease, and his 26-ball 46 – featuring an outrageous reverse-swept six off Sunil Narine – took the tourists home.

Australia reached 283-4 with eight balls to spare, surpassing the West Indies 282-8.

The West Indies’ total was built on a fine 125 off 134 balls from Marlon Samuels and his record fourth-wicket stand of 192 with Denesh Ramdin, who compiled 91 off 92 deliveries.

Smith said: “I thought Mitchell Marsh played a very mature innings and Glenn Maxwell finished off nicely with a few of his trademark reverse slog sweeps, or whatever they’re called.”

Marsh was more effusive about Maxwell’s innings, saying: “I was speechless at the other end. Maxie has a lot of doubters but an innings like today shows why he’s such a pivotal part of the team.”