Aus KO Pak; WI through

James Faulkner took a record five-wicket haul after Steve Smith hit an unbeaten half century to help Australia post a 21-run win and knock Pakistan out of the World Twenty20 Friday.

The victory means Australia remain in the hunt for a place in next week's semifinals with two wins from three matches and sets up an effective knock-out tie against India on Sunday.

The stage for a comfortable Australian win was set by an unbeaten 61-run knock from skipper Smith who shared key stands with Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell to rescue his side from a shaky 57-3.

Faulkner took four wickets from his last six balls and also accounted for the dangerous Sharjeel Khan to finish with 5-27, the best figures by an Australian in a T20 international.

Pakistan could only manage 172-8 in reply to Australia's strong 193-4.

Rookie leg-spinner Adam Zampa chipped in with two wickets in a commendable all-round show by the reigning 50-over world champions.

The defeat saw Pakistan, the 2009 winners, make a humiliating early exit from the marquee T20 tournament.

Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals and were never really in the hunt despite a valiant counter-attack by Khalid Latif.

After losing opener Ahmed Shehzad cheaply in the third over, Sharjeel tried to speed things up before chopping on to his stumps off Faulkner. Umar Akmal lost his wicket to Zampa and 'Boom Boom' Shahid Afridi was stumped after he danced down the track to attempt an ambitious shot to the same bowler.

In the day's second game, the West Indies clinched a spot in the World Twenty20 semi-finals with a thrilling three-wicket win over South Africa at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Friday.

Darren Sammy's side successfully chased down a target of 123 with just two balls to spare for a third consecutive Group One victory, becoming the second team to qualify after New Zealand.

It was South Africa's second defeat of the tournament and means England can secure a berth in the semis at their expense with a win against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

The Windies rode on a gritty 44 from Marlon Samuels to prevail in a tense finish. They had earlier restricted South Africa to 122 for eight after Sammy opted to field first.

It looked like the Windies would canter home but Imran Tahir grabbed two wickets in the 17th over and the Caribbean side ended up going into the final over requiring nine to win.

Carlos Brathwaite hit a massive six before precocious fast bowler Kagiso Rabada bowled a wide. Brathwaite then grabbed a quick run before Denesh Ramdin carried the Windies over the line with a single.

SCORES IN BRIEF
SOUTH AFRICA: 122 for 8 in 20 overs (De Kock 47, Wiese 28; Gayle 2-17)
WEST INDIES: 123 for 7 in 19.4 overs (Samuels 44, Charles 32; Tahir 2-13)
Result: West Indies won by 2 wickets
Player-of-the-match: Marlon Samuels