DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC) – Defending champions West Indies crushed Pakistan by 84 runs in their final preliminary game Tuesday to reach the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 Championship underway in Bangladesh.

Opting to bat first in the must-win encounter at the Shere Bangla Stadium, West Indies recovered from a sluggish start to post a challenging 166 for six off their 20 overs.

The Caribbean side then produced an imperious bowling display to bundle Pakistan out for 82 off 17.5 overs, to record their biggest ever win in T20 Internationals.

Leg-spinner Samuel Badree was magical with the new ball, claiming three for ten from his four overs while the World’s number one T20 bowler, off-spinner Sunil Narine, picked up three for 16 from his quota.

West Indies will now face Sri Lanka in the first semi-final on Thursday.

They had earlier recovered from a slow start to plunder 82 runs from the last five overs, with Dwayne Bravo smashing a top score of 46 from 26 deliveries and captain Darren Sammy, cracking an unbeaten 42 from just 20 balls.

Their frenetic sixth wicket stand of 71 required just 34 deliveries, and proved to be the catalyst of the West Indies innings after another sluggish performance from the top order batsmen.

Lendl Simmons chipped in with 31 from 29 balls while Marlon Samuels struggled with 20 from 18 balls, but big-hitting opener Chris Gayle (5) and his partner Dwayne Smith (music) were both dismissed cheaply.