West Indies captain Chris Gayle struck a powerful 98 to lead his team to a 14 run victory over India in the Twenty20 World Cup in front of a wildly celebrating home crowd on Sunday.

The win means West Indies can reach the semi-finals with victory over Australia on Tuesday but leaves India facing almost certain elimination after their second loss in the Super Eight stage.

Gayle produced a combination of prudency and power and his 66-ball knock only ended when he was run out in the final over of the innings, two short of what would have been his second century in a Twenty20 international.

The total of 169 for six was a challenging one and India were never up with the run-rate despite a good knock of 32 from Suresh Raina and an aggressive 29 from 18 balls from skipper M.S Dhoni.

Despite a passionate crowd roaring them on, West Indies suffered some late nerves when Kemar Roach bowled four wides and a no ball in the penultimate over.

But Dwayne Bravo kept his cool in the last over to set the horns hooting and the fists pumping in the stands.

India were unchanged from their previous match against Australia, which they lost by 49 runs, also at Kensington on Friday.

BRIDGETOWN, Sunday, Reuters