BRISBANE, Australia (CMC) — West Indies were left searching for confidence ahead of their Twenty20 World Cup campaign after suffering another defeat to Australia to go down 0-2 in their two-match series on Friday.

Asked to chase 179 on a challenging wicket at the Gabba, the Caribbean side found partnerships hard to come by and were held to 147 for eight from their 20 overs, going down by 31 runs.

Opener Johnson Charles top-scored with 29 from 30 balls while Akeal Hosein struck a 19-ball 25 batting at number seven but West Indies never really challenged after finding themselves on 70 for three at the halfway mark.

They were set back by left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc who claimed four for 20 while pacer Pat Cummins captured two for 32, the World champions finding precious little difficulty in containing the visiting side’s hitters.

“Obviously it’s tough losing. Well played to Australia and congratulations on a series win as well but they played better cricket than us today,” said West Indies Captain Nicholas Pooran.

“I think the [179] was a gettable total. I think the bowlers did an extremely good job, especially pulling it back in the end there and giving us that momentum going into our innings.

“But the batsmen failed us today — in the middle overs there — after getting a good start. We obviously faltered and we paid the price in the end.”

Left-handed opener David Warner provided the foundation for Australia’s 178 for seven after they were sent in, punching a top score of 75 from 41 deliveries.

Tim David chipped in with a 20-ball 42 at number six as Australia gathered 55 runs from the last five overs.

Scoreboard

Australia

D Warner c & b Smith 75

C Green c Holder b Joseph 1

*A Finch c Powell b McCoy 15

S Smith b Joseph 17

G Maxwell run out 1

T David lbw b McCoy 42

+M Wade c Mayers b Joseph 16

P Cummins not out 1

Extras (lb4, w6) 10

Total (7 wkts, 20 overs) 178

Did not bat: M Starc, A Zampa, J

Hazlewood

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-95, 3-96, 4-100,

5-156, 6-172, 7-178

Bowling: Mayers 2-0-19-0 (w1), Joseph

4-0-21-3 (w1), Holder 3-0-27-0 (w1),

McCoy 3-0-33-2, Hosein 3-0-22-0, Smith

3-0-24-1 (w3), Cariah 2-0-28-0

West Indies

K Mayers c & b Starc 6

J Charles c wkp Wade b Green 29

B King st Wade b Zampa 23

*+N Pooran c Finch b Starc 2

J Holder c Green b Starc 16

R Powell c wkp Wade b Cummins 18

A Hosein c Warner b Cummins 25

O Smith b Starc 4

A Joseph not out 11

Y Cariah not out 2

Extras (b5, lb2, w4) 11

Total (8 wkts, 20 overs) 147

Did not bat: O McCoy

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-56, 3-62, 4-73,

5-92, 6-122, 7-133, 8-143

Bowling: Starc 4-0-20-4 (w2), Hazlewood

4-0-19-0, Cummins 4-0-32-2 (w1), Green

4-0-35-1 (w1), Zampa 4-0-34-1

Result: Australia won by 31 runs.

Series: Australia won two-match series

2-0

Man-of-the-Match: David Warner

Toss: West Indies

Umpires: Phillip Gillespie, Sam Nogajski;

TV – Donovan Koch