Australia’s hopes of reaching the World Twenty20 final are looking shaky after Chris Gayle smashed an unbeaten 75 in the West Indies’ total of 4-205 in Friday night’s knockout semi-final clash.

Gayle’s 45-ball knock including five fours and six sixes as the big left-hander added 65 runs in 25 deliveries for the fourth wicket with Kieron Pollard.

Pollard’s 15-ball innings of 38 ended when he was caught at long-off from the final ball of the 20th over bowled by spinner Xavier Doherty.

Doherty took 1-48 from his three overs, with his final over costing 25 including a six from Gayle and three sixes in consecutive deliveries by Pollard.

Young quick Pat Cummins claimed 2-36 in a solid fightback from a dip in form in the past couple of matches.

Johnson Charles (10) went for a big off-drive and was caught behind off Mitchell Starc’s bowling in the third over.

Marlon Samuels hit 26 off 20 balls before he missed a slower ball from Cummins at 2-57.

Dwayne Bravo (37) shared an 83-run stand with Gayle for the third wicket before he was caught at cover off Cummins’ bowling.

But the Australians, despite doing their homework after conceding 8-191 in their group match against the Windies earlier in the tournament, were unable to stop the flow of runs as Gayle and Pollard hit nine sixes between them.

Australia recalled veteran batsman David Hussey for his first game of the tournament, dropping young allrounder Glenn Maxwell.

But David Hussey had a dirty night with the ball, taking 0-22 from two overs with his offspinners as Gayle unleashed one monster on-drive that travelled an estimated 100 metres.