Gayle heroics not enough for Windies
Gayle scored 117 in a remarkable innings
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Tuesday, 11, Sep 2007 09:40
Chris Gayle hit the first ever Twenty20 international century but it was not enough to prevent South Africa beating West Indies by eight wickets in the inaugural game of the ICC World Twenty20.
Gayle smashed an unbelievable ten sixes in a remarkable innings of 117 from just 57 balls.
However the rest of the West Indies batsmen failed to deliver and in the end their total of 205 proved little trouble for South Africa to chase.
Gayle appeared grateful for the removal of the burden of captaincy and from the third over signalled his intent with his first six off Shaun Pollock, before laying into the bowling of Makhaya Ntini.
The opening batsman's haul of sixes set a new record and he received handshakes all round from the South African players when he was finally dismissed in the 17th over.
In reply, South Africa suffered early problems with West Indies bowler Darren Powell flooring captain Graeme Smith with the first ball of the innings after Smith received a painful blow to the hand.
Smith soon fell with the score on 54 but shortly after, Dwayne Bravo dropped Herschelle Gibbs when he was on 20 in what proved to be the turning point of the match.
AB de Villiers fell to Fidel Edwards for only 16 and South Africa seemed to be struggling on 88-2.
But some big hitting from Gibbs meant that 100 runs were required from the final ten overs.
Shiv Chanderpaul then also dropped Gibbs on the boundary and a 100 partnership with Justin Kemp was reached off just 50 balls.
The poor fielding from West Indies continued and Gibbs and Kemp saw South Africa home with more than two overs to spare, Gibbs ending on 90 off 55 balls and Kemp weighing in with an important 46 off 22.