Australia secured a 31-run win over the West Indies after some magic from Mitchell Starc in the field and a towering Tim David batting at the Gabba.
After being sent in to bat, David Warner (75 off 41) came out swinging but had little support early on with Cam Green (1) and Aaron Finch (15) falling early.
With the Aussies trailing 3-5 at mid-innings, the West Indies were in complete control before David departed in the 16th over.
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He easily removed Obed McCoy to reach 42 off just 20 balls, helping Australia to 7-178.
And the West Indies were on the back foot almost immediately as Starc (4-18) took one of the catches of the summer.
The visitors lost wickets regularly and could not mount an inspired late charge to lose the T20I series 2-0 to Australia.
David Warner was named player of the series.
The Aussies had changed their line-up from the opening game, with Mitch Marsh (managed) out of the side as he flies to Perth to avoid the tight change for Sunday’s clash with England, which will not feature Australia’s first-choice players.
Steve Smith came back in as Finch stepped up to bat at three.
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West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first, and the move paid off as Cam Green was out early for just one.
The young West Aussie had to go after facing just four balls, having been bowled by Alzarri Joseph.
Aaron Finch, promoted to number three after being out for four in the first game, survived a review off the second ball he faced.
Finch was hit on the pads by a Kyle Mayers delivery that swung, but replays showed the ball going down leg.
He survived another scream moments later as the ball clipped his thigh.
Finch, even trying to play a ramp, took it off the tip of the bat but it landed safely as he moved to 2* off nine balls.
But at the other end, Warner punished the West Indies attack as he put the Aussies back in front.
He had the first six innings in the fourth over as he raced to 25* off just 13 balls.
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West Indies’ tactics were called into question when both Alzarri Joseph and Jason Holder were given just one over each before being dropped from the attack.
“It just takes the pressure off (with the new bowler),” Fox Cricket’s Mark Waugh said.
“I think the only bowler Finch doesn’t want to face is Joseph.”
“Just giving the Aussies too many easy runs,” added commentator Brad Haddin.
While Finch struggled with his timing at one end, Warner had no trouble at the other.
He quickly cleared the half-century off 30 balls and then made 25 runs from his next 10 deliveries.
Warner and Finch combined to make 17 off Yannic Cariah’s first over.
At half-time, Australia were 1-88.
But the game quickly soured for the home side within minutes.
Finch fell for 15 off 18 when he got to mid-on, with Haddin believing the veteran was trying to “hit it too hard” down the ground.
“His leg was open, he was moving away from the ball and trying to muscle,” Haddin said.
“The bat swung in the hand.”
The Australians committed cricket’s “cardinal sin” four balls later when David Warner fell to 75 off just 41 balls.
Odean Smith managed to avoid hitting the stumps when he got under a skied pool shot to catch and bowl.
Warner’s wicket left Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell both fresh at the crease in the 12th over, at a time when the home side needed a foothold.
“This is where you can win the game,” Haddin warned.
“Suddenly Australia don’t have the platform to launch themselves into the finals.”
And Maxwell lasted just four balls after a mix-up with Steve Smith as Australia lost 3/5.
The all-rounder was caught just before his crease after mistaking Smith’s follow-up for a run call.
“I don’t think there was a race,” Waugh said.
“It’s one of those shots that you turn it on and go with the shot.
“(Smith) goes there, that’s what Maxwell thought anyway.”
Debutant Tim David wasted no time as he backed up his game a duck with a massive 42 off just 20 balls.
David’s entertaining innings included four fours and three sixes, including making 20 off just four deliveries from Obed McCoy before being bowled by a full toss.
He received his marching orders in review, much to the disappointment of the crowd.
“That kind of innings there can turn a semi-final or a World Cup final,” Haddin said.
“The air also went out of the crowd when it was given.”
“Book it wherever you want: six or five,” Waugh added.
With David back in the dugout, the Aussies struggled to make use of the extra man in the field, as punishment for West Indies’ slow pace.
Steve Smith was bowled on the first ball of the final over, and Matt Wade dismissed a single on the last ball of the innings to retain Pat Cummins’ strike.
And it didn’t pay off as he was dismissed on the final ball, with the Aussies finishing 7-178.
Mitchell Starc got the Aussies off to the best possible start on the field when he took one of the great catches of all time.
Starc was still on his follow-up when he stayed low and trapped dangerman Kyle Mayers (6 off 5) with a near one-handed catch that returned at over 105 kmph.
“They are great reflections of Mitchell Starc,” praised Haddin.
“He has a great hand game Starcy.
“That’s really hard to do — 6-foot-5, in your follow-up. An outstanding piece of athleticism there!”
“That’s a classic catch if I’ve ever seen one,” added Waugh.
It was the ultimate revenge for Starc after Mayers bowled him for a six earlier.
Adam Zampa was apologizing to Pat Cummins when he dropped Johnson Charles in the 2nd.
Along with Brandon King, Charles began to drag the West Indies back into the contest after Starc’s first knock, putting themselves in a 50-run position.
But Zampa broke it when he fooled King (23 off 18) at mid-flight and Wade was quick on the bails.
Suddenly 2-56 became 3-62 when Aaron Finch took a good chance to dismiss skipper Nicholas Pooran (2 for 3).
Wade got under a skied shot from Johnson Charles to ensure he walked for 29 from 30 as the West Indies’ charge eased.
Faced with a required run rate of almost 12 for the final nine overs, Rovman Powell had his pocket overturned in appeal and shrugged off a hard hit on the glove of a concerned Starc delivery of minutes
But he lost partner Jason Holder (16 off 13) when he went in the deep just two balls later, leaving West Indies 5-92 in the 13th over.
From there, West Indies struggled to get into the swing of things before Akeal Hosein fell for six in the 16th over.
The massive knock ensured the visitors needed 60 from the final four for victory. Powell survived thanks to heavy casualties as the ball deflected off his leg and rolled towards the stumps, but his luck ran out when he was caught trying to put Pat Cummins into the stands.
Hosein fell and so did any chance of a thrilling fightback as Australia cruised to a 31-run victory.
Teams
Australia XI: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Cameron Green, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Antilles XI: Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran (c, wk), Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Odean Smith, Akeal Hosein, Yannic Cariah, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy
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