There might hardly have been much action earlier in the evening, but as day turned into night, not only did it bring in the crowds, David Warner and Philip Hughes ensured maximum entertainment for them.

The 22-year-old Warner — the pint-sized dynamite — and 20-year-old Hughes set the Indira Gandhi International Stadium at Uppal on fire on Friday night.

And it was a confident New South Wales Blues team that walked out onto the field to defend their impressive total of 170 for four, set up chiefly by the 121-run opening partnership between Warner (63 off 41 balls) and Hughes (83 off 64 balls).

For the first 13 overs of Trinidad and Tobago’s chase, it looked like the Australians were well on their way to the semi-finals. But that was before Kieron Pollard entered the scene and decimated the New South Wales bowling to ensure a stunning four-wicket win for T&T.

Smashing innings

When Pollard walked in, T&T required a further 80 runs off the last 42 balls, and with five sixes — three of which came in a Moises Henriques over that cost him 27 runs — and five fours in his 18-ball 54, the giant Trinidadian finished the match with nine balls to spare.

The closer T&T got to the total, the more expressive were the scenes in their dug-out and among their motley crew in the stands. And by the time Pollard smashed the fifth of his sixes over the long-on fence to reach his half-century mark, there was no stopping Daren Ganga and his boys as they scampered onto the field and began their trademark celebrations, in true Caribbean style.

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