Chris Gayle rode his luck, surviving an early dropped catch to club a half-century as West Indies scored the huge total of 8-191 in their World Twenty20 Group B clash with Australia on Saturday night.

Master blaster Gayle (54 off 33 balls) and Marlon Samuels (50 off 32) hit four sixes each as Australia’s plan of bouncing the West Indies batsmen failed to have the desired effect at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium on a pitch that offered some good carry for the quicks.

Mitchell Starc claimed 3-35 including two wickets in two balls in the 20th over, but the damage had already been done.

Left-armer Starc bowled the second over of the match and produced a late inswinger to rattle Dwayne Smith’s stumps at 1-8.

Shane Watson dropped a difficult diving catch at deep third man off Starc’s bowling when Gayle was on four in a massive blow to Australia’s hopes of keep the Windies to a low total.

Dan Christian bowled Johnson Charles for 16 at 2-47 but Gayle raced to his half-century off 26 balls, hitting offspinner Glenn Maxwell out of the attack with a 17-run over.

Gayle displayed brute strength with some massive hits, although there were also plenty of edges.

Watson had a second opportunity to get his man and removed Gayle caught and bowled at the start of the 11th over when a Windies’ total of 200 had looked possible.

Samuels holed out to long-on from Brad Hogg’s bowling while Kieron Pollard (10) was also caught in the deep as Watson (2-29) claimed his second victim.

Dwayne Bravo (27) was bowled by Pat Cummins (1-41) in the 19th over.

A win on Saturday night for Australia, which would require a huge effort with the bat, would guarantee George Bailey’s side passage into the Super Eights round.

The only other match in Group B to be played is on Monday night when Ireland clash with the Windies.

Australia beat Ireland by seven wickets last Wednesday.