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WEST INDIES have completed a comfortable six-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates to stay in the hunt effectively lock up a berth in the World Cup quarter-finals.
After bowling out the winless UAE for 175, the West Indians reached 4-176 with more than 19 overs to spare.
Attention now turns to Adelaide, where Pakistan and Ireland are engaged in the tournament’s last pool fixture. The loser of that match will be eliminated, although if it is a tie or a wash out, then West Indies will be flying home.
With the Windies missing big-hitting opener Chris Gayle because of a back complaint, replacement Johnson Charles produced some solid blows of his own with 55 off 40 balls.
Charles, who cracked 11 boundaries including two sixes, was caught while trying to push the score along after the West Indies took their batting power play in just the 12th over.
An unbroken half-century stand between Jonathan Carter (50) and Denesh Ramdin (33) carried their side home.
After winning the toss, the West Indies made an incisive start to their bid to dismiss the UAE quickly.
Skipper Jason Holder instigated a top-order collapse, having openers Andri Berenger and Amjad Ali, and Krishna Karate back in the pavilion with the total at 17.
Fellow paceman Jerome Taylor chipped in by removing Khurram Khan and Shaiman Anwar to leave the Middle East part-timers reeling at 5-26.
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