Gayle, Sammy win it for Windies
30 March 2014 5:22 AM IST
Opting to bat, Australia scored a competitive 178 for eight in 20 overs, riding on Glenn Maxwell’s 45 and Brad Hodge’s 35. West Indies got the runs with a couple of balls to spare. Needing 31 off the last two, Sammy (34 no, 13 balls) smashed Mitchell Starc for 19 runs in the penultimate over to bring the equation down to 12 in the final over bowled by James Faulkner. The skipper hit two fours and three sixes.
After two dot balls, Faulkner bowled a full-toss that Sammy hit over long-off for a six to bring the equation down to six from three balls. Sammy then hit the next straight over the bowler’s head and threw his bat running towards the dug-out as his delirious mates joined in the celebration.
Sammy had said Thursday that he doesn’t care whether ‘James Faulkner likes West Indians or not’ but he gave a fitting reply to the bowler as Gayle again did the Gangnam jig with vengeance as poor Faulkner could only look on. The win brightened West Indies’ chances for a semi-final berth while Australia will find it difficult to make a comeback in the tournament.
Earlier, Maxwell (45) and Hodge (35) made useful contributions as Australia put up a decent 178 for eight on board after George Bailey elected to bat. David Warner (20) and Aaron Finch (16) started well, with the latter hitting leggie Samuel Badree for a six and couple of boundaries as Australia raced to 33 in no time.
But Finch paid for his indiscretion when he tried to mindlessly slog Samuels over deep mid-wicket. Soon after, Badree castled Warner before Maxwell and Bailey steadied the ship with a brief partnership of 36 runs.
BRIEF SCORES
WI 179 for 4 (Gayle 53) beat Australia 178 for 8 (Maxwell 45, Narine 2-19) by 6 wickets.
After two dot balls, Faulkner bowled a full-toss that Sammy hit over long-off for a six to bring the equation down to six from three balls. Sammy then hit the next straight over the bowler’s head and threw his bat running towards the dug-out as his delirious mates joined in the celebration.
Sammy had said Thursday that he doesn’t care whether ‘James Faulkner likes West Indians or not’ but he gave a fitting reply to the bowler as Gayle again did the Gangnam jig with vengeance as poor Faulkner could only look on. The win brightened West Indies’ chances for a semi-final berth while Australia will find it difficult to make a comeback in the tournament.
Earlier, Maxwell (45) and Hodge (35) made useful contributions as Australia put up a decent 178 for eight on board after George Bailey elected to bat. David Warner (20) and Aaron Finch (16) started well, with the latter hitting leggie Samuel Badree for a six and couple of boundaries as Australia raced to 33 in no time.
But Finch paid for his indiscretion when he tried to mindlessly slog Samuels over deep mid-wicket. Soon after, Badree castled Warner before Maxwell and Bailey steadied the ship with a brief partnership of 36 runs.
BRIEF SCORES
WI 179 for 4 (Gayle 53) beat Australia 178 for 8 (Maxwell 45, Narine 2-19) by 6 wickets.
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