COLOMBO – Australia and the rain crashed Chris Gayle’s planned birthday bash and washed away West Indies’ hopes of victory in their first match of the ICC World Twenty20 at the Premadassa Stadium last night.
Before a crowd of 28 000, West Indies bowlers spoilt a gallant effort from their batsmen, with a total of 191 for eight in 20 overs, and were beaten via the Duckworth/Lewis method by 17 runs, ending Gayle’s plans to celebrate his 33rd birthday with a victory party.
When a sharp shower came at around 10:10 p.m. (12:40 p.m. Barbados time), Australia were 100 for one in 9.1 overs, well ahead of the required 83 runs.
The victory sent Australia comfortably through to the Super Eights and left the West Indies in a must-win situation against Ireland at the same venue tomorrow night if they are to qualify.
West Indies had everything their way when the match started.
They won the toss and chose to bat on a supreme batting pitch with the crowd clearly behind them. Gayle benefited from a great slice of luck when he was on four, which cost the Australians 50 more runs.
He went on to punish them in 45 minutes of exhilarating hitting, thanks to the drop chance by Shane Watson at third man off Mitchell Starc.
Gayle counted four sixes and five fours from 33 balls until Watson had him caught and bowled for 54.
At that stage the West Indies were 93 for three in the 11th over, but the fans had more reason to cheer as Marlon Samuels’ silky and classical strokes sent them in a further frenzy.
Samuels cut, drove and pulled with grace, scoring an even 50. He had a penchant for piercing the off-side field, while Gayle used brute force too shatter the opposition bowlers.
Dwayne Bravo with 27, captain Darren Sammy (12) and Kieron Pollard (10) played cameo roles as the momentum was with the West Indies.
But they were in for a surprise, compliments Australians Dave Warner and Watson.
The left-handed Warner belted two sixes and three fours in Ravi Rampaul’s erratic second over to give Australia a run rate of 15 per over within the first three.
When Warner departed, controversially caught behind off Fidel Edwards, Watson opened his shoulders and smashed three sixes and two fours to finish unbeaten on 41 from 24 balls. His innings and the two wickets he copped earlier gained him the Man of the Match award.
His knock wasn’t without a slice of luck though, with Dwayne Smith missing a catch when Watson was 28 and the score was 81 for one.
Instead it was just what Australia needed to motor past the Duckworth Lewis target and upset the regional side.
The West Indies bowlers were ragged. When not too short they were too full and Michael Hussey also helped himself to 28 not out to join the party.
Meanwhile, South Africa topped Group C with a victory in Hambantota.
They beat Sri Lanka by 32 runs in a match reduced to seven-overs per side encounter due to rain.
South Africa’s 78 for four was too much for the Sri Lankans to handle and they ended up on 46 for five to lose by 32 runs.
Both teams qualified for the Super Eights after beating Zimbabwe.
