Australia looked in fine form on the road to the T20 World Cup by completing a 2-0 series sweep over the West Indies on Friday.

Opener David Warner’s stroke-filled 75, Tim David’s explosive 42 off 20 balls and Mitchell Starc’s sharp bowling helped the Aussies beat the Windies by 31 runs in the second T20I in Brisbane.

After being put in to bat, the hosts powered to 178/7.

Then Starc, with career-best figures of 4/20, and Josh Hazlewood, conceding only 19 runs in four overs, ensured that the total was defended well. The Windies 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.

Australia did not start their innings well though. Cameron Green, partnering Warner, fell for 1. But Warner batted with a strike rate of 182.92 to help his team recover from the setback. Despite Warner’s fine innings, the Aussies struggled with the bat before No.6 David came to the scene. With four fours and three sixes, the Singapore-born big-hitter gave Australia’s total the required boost

In reply, none from the West Indies managed to get a foothold. A few of them got starts, but could not carry on for long.

The Australia pacers — Starc, Hazlewood and Pat Cummins (2/32) — had an impressive day on the field.

Beginning on Sunday, Australia play three T20 matches against England before launching their World Cup campaign versus New Zealand on October 22.

Brief sores: Australia 178/7 in 20 ovs (David Warner 75, Tim David 42; Alzarri Joseph 3/21). West Indies 147/8 in 20 ovs (Mitchell Starc 4/20). Australia won by 31 runs.

Written with inputs from Reuters