Warner, Starc help Australia sweep series against West Indies

David Warner’s stroke-filled 75 helped Australia post 178/7; Mitchell Starc’s career-best figures of 4 for 20 restrcited the West Indies to 147/8

Australia's David Warner smashed an incendiary half-century and Mitchell Starc claimed four wickets conceding 20 to help the hosts beat West Indies by 31 runs in the second Twenty20 International and complete a 2-0 series sweep in Brisbane on Friday.

Warner got Australia off to a flyer with his stroke-filled 75 and Tim David belted 42 off 20 balls down the order to power them to 178/7 after being put in to bat.

Starc led Australia's spirited defence of the total with career-best figures, while Josh Hazlewood conceded only 19 runs in his four overs even if he finished without a wicket.

Johnson Charles (29) and Brandon King (23) could not convert their starts and lack of a partnership hurt West Indies, who finished on 147/8.

Warner's form is crucial to Australia's hopes of retaining their T20 World Cup title on home soil later this month and the left-hander looked in top shape as he tore into the West Indies attack.

Cameron Green fell for one and Aaron Finch made a scrappy 15 but Warner looked imperious as if batting on a different track.

The opener swept Jason Holder for the first of his three sixes and proved difficult to contain.