Sport
Chris Gayle inspires West Indies to victory over New Zealand
Chris Gayle. File PHOTO/AP
West Indies defeated New Zealand by 10 wickets on the final day of the second cricket Test against West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad on Friday.
Needing 93 for victory, Chris Gayle made sure he didn’t waste much time getting the runs with his whirlwind 80 as West Indies chased down the target in 13.2 overs.
Gayle, who got to his fifty off 28 balls, hit seven fours and six sixes in his 46-ball knock. Kraigg Brathwaite watched from the other giving strike to Gayle making 14.
Set a paltry 93 for victory after New Zealand doggedly extended their second innings up until lunch on a dramatic final day, the West Indies sped to 95 without loss with the left-handed Gayle slamming a trademark whirlwind unbeaten 80 from 46 balls.
Gayle overshadowed Man-of-the-Match Kraigg Brathwaite, who was unbeaten on 12, and ended the match in just 13.2 overs. He also erased any hopes New Zealand had of a shock result after their lower order rallied admirably in the extended first session to lift the total to 331, before the innings ended.
Brief Scores:
West Indies: 460 (Kraigg Brathwaite 129, Darren Bravo 109, Jermaine Blackwood 63, Kirk Edwards 55, Shiv Chanderpaul 47, Denesh Ramdin 32; Ish Sodhi 4/96, Trent Boult 3/75) and 95 without loss (Chris Gayle 80 not out).
New Zealand: 221 (Tom Latham 82, Ross Taylor 45 not out, Kane Williamson 42; Jerome Taylor 4/34, Sulieman Benn 3/73, Shannon Gabriel 2/43) and 331 (Mark Craig 67, BradleyJohn Watling 66 not out, Kane Williamson 52, Tom Latham 36, Ross Taylor 36; Kemar Roach 4/74, Shannon Gabriel 2/66, Jerome Taylor 2/73, Sulieman Benn 2/78). -(CMC)