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WI v Zim : 5th ODI

Monday, December 1 2003

Chris Gayle rounded off a fantastic ODI series with a match-winning performance, strengthening his claim as an above average allrounder in world cricket. Gayle smashed an unbeaten century and snatched four cheap Zimbabwean scalps as well as the Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards.

Zimbabwe won the toss and Heath Streak elected to bat first after his ploy to bowl yesterday failed. This time around, fortunes seemed to have turned. Saturday's hero, Fidel Edwards saw his first 5 overs go for 37 runs as Barney Rogers looked to make amends for his duck. Rogers and Sibanda compiled 39 runs for the first wicket when the latter was run out by Powell for 8. Rogers then found an able partner in the in-form Mark Vermeulen as their 20-ball partnership produced 18 runs, then Dillon got Rogers nicking a drive to Jacobs for 34. His innings took 40 balls and contained 9 fours.

The Zimbabwe score reached 107/2 before the West Indies fought their way back into the game. Wishart (16), Maregwede (0) and Vermeulen (36) all perished to Chris Gayle's flat offspin as the scoreboard was made to read 111/5. A familiar partnership of Streak and Taibu set about to rebuild, adding 30 runs leading up to a mistimed slog from Taibu (14) off Powell. Ervine (10) lofted a massive six off Powell, but gave Powell his third catch from Gayle's bowling in the next over.

Edwards returned and Streak picked out Lara at extra cover for 30 - 179/8. The first ball of the next over, Powell drew Blignaut (10) into a purposeful venture down the track and Jacobs dealt with the stumps 179/9. Ray Price (3) and Gary Brent (10 not out) added a useful 17 more runs before Price was adjudged LBW by his father-in-law, umpire Kevin Barbour. In all, Zimbabwe lost their last 8 wickets for only 89 runs as the innings closed on 196 all out. Gayle finished with 4/24 from his 10 overs and Powell and Edwards took a couple of wickets each. Powell also had three catches and a runout to accompany his bowling feat.

With the conditions still good for batting, Gayle and Hinds set about chasing the total. The initial overs showed Streak and Blignaut troubling Gayle and Hinds a little with a bit of movement, but soon Gayle was into stride. He smashed the Zimbabwean bowling with raw power and a willingness to take risks. Hinds at the other end was being tempted into the hook with a barrage of short deliveries. For the most part he resisted and ducked, but eventually gave in and spooned a catch to Ray Price at midon (his first such in ODI's) - 43/1.

The loss of his partner did nothing to perturb Gayle as he managed the unthinkable in making the audience forget that Brian Lara was even at the crease, overshadowing him in every aspect. An innings lined with smashed over cover and straight down the ground, majestic lofted flicks, reminiscent of the West Indians of old. Chris Gayle was at the peak of his powers. On Saturday, he reached his fifty off of 31 balls and on this day he was a bit more tardy, taking 39.

It did not take very long before Lara too got into the act. After scoring just 7 runs from his first 20 balls, Lara's eyes lit up with the introduction of Price and he in turn lit Price up for consecutive sixes in his first over. In the next Blignaut over, Gayle essayed a humongous pull shot over midwicket, mistimed but hit with more than enough power for six. This followed an effortless lofted shot to the boundary behind the bowler. Lara began to use his feet and hit Price and off-spinner Barney Rogers for a couple of boundaries. He then swept Price for four and lifted him off the back-foot over the inner circle, bisecting the fielders on the fence.

The next two overs brought 13 more runs, a considerable drop in pace. Gayle then took it upon himself to end the game as swiftly as possible. Rogers was to prove the brunt of this. The left-handed opener entered the 23rd over on 92 and finished it on 107 not out. He smashed a Rogers offering to the longoff fence, beating the long off to bring up his hundred facing only 69 balls. At that stage, he had feasted with 16 fours and 2 sixes. Lara was bowled making room for himself in the next over, having made 41 from 42 balls. Promoted up the order, Ricardo Powell came out and produces triplets of boundaries in finishing unbeaten on 12.

Christopher Henry Gayle ended the innings unbeaten on 112 of 197 runs. His exhibition lasted 75 balls and included 17 fours and 2 sixes. This was the second time that Gayle batted through the innings for the West Indies, who won by an eight-wicket margin. In the series Gayle scored 385 runs at an average of 128.33 and a strike rate of 97.22. He reached the hundred mark twice occasion and finished past fifty the same. Both hundreds were unbeaten, with 153 being the higher. Lara (204 @ 40.80) had the second highest aggregate in the series. For Zimbabwe, Mark Vermeulen amassed 174 runs at 43.50 per innings. In addition, Gayle took 7 wickets at 12.57 apiece and an economy rate of 2.75.

The West Indies head to South Africa next and Zimbabwe will compete in the VB series in Australia in January.

Match Summary
Zimbabwe 196 all out (47.5 overs)
(Mark Vermeulen 36 [54], Barney Rogers 34 [40], Heath Streak 30 [62])
(Chris Gayle 4/24 [10], Ricardo Powell 2/32 [7], Fidel Edwards 2/60 [8.5 - 6w])
West Indies 197/2 (25.4 overs)
(Chris Gayle 112 not out [75], Brian Lara 41 [42])
(Sean Ervine 1/35 [4.4], Andy Blignaut 1/44 [6 - 7w])
Result: West Indies won by 8 wickets
Series: West Indies won 3-2
Man of the Match: Chris Gayle (WI)
Man of the Series: Chris Gayle (WI)

Posted by Liam