Aussies survive Gayle storm

Duckworth-Lewis method favours Baileys men over West Indies

Four days after the World T20 action began at the Sri Lankan capital, the tournament finally came alive on Saturday as a near-capacity crowd, the biggest yet for a non-home team match, lapped up every moment of this stroke-filled frenzy between Australia and the West Indies.

It was a shame that the match couldn’t be completed as rain came down pouring during Australia’s frenetic chase of West Indies’ total of 192/8 -- built on the exploits of Chris Gayle (54, 33b, 5x4, 4x6) and Marlon Samuels (50, 32b, 3x4, 4x6). But by that time, enough action had taken place to decide the winner. Australia, who had faced 9.1 overs, needed to have scored 83 after losing opener David Warner but they were comfortably ahead at 100/1, thus emerging 17-run winners via Duckworth/Lewis method at the R Premadasa Stadium.

Warner set the right tempo for a difficult chase under lights, hammering a 14-ball 28 before falling to Fidel Edwards. But that hardly made any difference to Australia’s intent to attack. Shane Watson (41, 24b, 2x4, 3x6) and Mike Hussey (28, 19b, 3x4, 1x6) clobbered 70 runs for the unbroken second wicket in 50 balls to ensure that by the time rain had its final say, Australia were home by some degree of comfort. With this win, Australia made it to the Super Eight stage from Group ‘B’ while the match between Ireland and the West Indies on Monday will decide the other qualifier.

Gayle, who else, set the tone for the innings with his six-hitting spree that the IPL followers are familiar with. Easily the most popular player tonight, the southpaw had the large gathering eating out of his hands as he cleared the ropes with the customary ease.
Shane Watson managed to keep the Jamaican quiet in the opening over, even surprising the batsman with a short bouncer that went off the helmet for a four. He was also dropped off a difficult chance by Watson on four but once he smashed Pat Cummins through covers for the first of his nine boundaries, there was no stopping the opener.

Gayle punished Cummins for two more fours before pulling him over mid-wicket fence for the first of his four sixes. He next slammed Glenn Maxwell out of the attack and brought up his half-century in just 26 balls. The crowd hadn’t had enough of Gayle when Watson returned to remove him caught and bowled.

Samuels then put on display his big-hitting prowess and some slogging towards the end appeared to have taken the West Indies to a safe score, but Australia had other plans.

Score Board

WEST INDIES
Smith b Starc    2
(5b)
Gayle c & bWatson    54
(33b, 5x4, 4x6)
Charles b Christian    16
(12b, 2x4, 1x6)
Samuels c Warner b Hogg    50
(32b, 3x4, 4x6)
Dwayne Bravo  b Cummins    27
(21b, 1x4, 1x6)
Pollard c M Hussey b Watson    10
(8b, 2x4)
Sammy c Warner b Starc    11
(5b, 1x4, 1x6)
Ramdin b Starc    4
(4b)
Rampaul (not out)    0
(0b)
Narine (not out)    4
(1b, 1x4)
Extras (LB-10, W-2, NB-1)    13
Total (for 8 wkts, 20 overs)    191
Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Smith), 2-47 (Charles), 3-93 (Dwayne), 4-140 (Samuels), 5-162 (Pollard), 6-171 (Dwayne Bravo), 7-187 (Sammy), 8-187 (Ramdin). Bowling: Watson 4-0-29-2 (w-1), Starc 4-0-35-3 (w-1), Cummins 4-1-41-1 (nb-1), Christian 3-0-29-1, Hogg 4-0-30-1, Maxwell 1-0-17-0. Runs during Power Play: 1-6 overs: 53/2.

AUSTRALIA

Warner c Ramdin b Edwards    28
(14b, 3x4, 2x6)
Watson (not out)    41
(24b, 2x4, 3x6)
M Hussey (not out)    28
(19b, 3x4, 1x6)
Extras (W-1, NB-2)    3
Total (for 1 wkt, 9.1 overs)    100
Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Warner).
Bowling: Edwards 2-0-16-1 (w-1), Rampaul 1.1-0-23-0 (nb-1), Narine 2-0-16-0 (nb-1), Sammy 2-0-15-0, Samuels 1-0-22-0, Dwayne Bravo 1-0-8-0. Runs during Power Play 1: 1-6 overs: 62/1.