West Indies captain Chris Gayle said there was plenty of work left for his side after he led them to a crushing seven-wicket win over Australia in their first match of this year’s ICC World Twenty20 on Saturday.
Opening batsman Gayle dominated the Australia attack during a blistering innings of 88, off just 50 balls, which featured six sixes and six fours.
Australia quick Brett Lee was made to look like a club bowler during four overs that cost 56 runs, with Gayle striking him for a six out of the ground and then hitting him onto the roof of the stand above the players’ dressing rooms at the pavilion end.
PHOTO: AFP
“This is only the first game, we still have a long way to go,” Gayle told reporters.
“After a tough series against England, we wanted to put a smile back on our fans’ faces,” added Gayle ahead of the West Indies’ match against Group C rivals Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge tomorrow.
Gayle received excellent support from Andre Fletcher (52) in an opening stand of 133 — the third highest for any wicket in all Twenty20 internationals.
But the platform for victory had arguably been laid in the very first over of the match when Jerome Taylor removed both Shane Watson and Australia captain Ricky Ponting for ducks.
Gayle’s blow that struck the roof was measured as a hit of 105m by video technology but the batsman, who hit 26 runs in that one Lee over, played down the shot by saying: “It’s the first time I have hit it so far, but if the ball is in the slot in Twenty20, these things happen.”
“You will have guys who hit it further than me as well — maybe Shahid Afridi or Virender Sehwag,” he said.
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