STAR AND STRIPES Windies humble Kiwis
Florida, July 1: Chris Gayle slammed an unbeaten 85 and Kieron Pollard lashed 63 not out off 29 balls on Saturday to set up a 56run victory for the West Indies over New Zealand in the first of two Twenty20 internationals in Florida.
Gayle smashed seven fours and five sixes off 52 balls to anchor a recordbreaking West Indian total of 209-2 off 20 overs. The equally powerful Pollard lofted five fours and five sixes as the pair shared a partnership of 108 off 47 balls.
New Zealand was briefly up with the demanding required rate but eventually was bowled out for 153 off 18.3 overs at Central Broward Regiona Park.
West Indies spinner Sunil Narine claimed 3-34 while there was a wicket apiece for captain Darren Sammy, Fidel Edwards and Dwayne
SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES: Dwayne Smith b Bracewell 17, Chris Gayle n.o. 85, Johnson Charles c Oram b Williamson 24, Kieron Pollard n.o. 63. Extras: (1b, 3lb, 13w, 3nb) 20. Total: (for two wickets in 20 overs) 209. FoW: 1-27, 2-101. Bowling: Nathan McCullum 4-0-30-0, Doug Bracewell 4-0-47-1, Tim Southee 4-0-35-0, Jacob Oram 2-0-26-0, Ronnie Hira 2.2-0-22-0, Kane Williamson 1.4-0-21-1, Rob Nicol 2-0-24-0. NEW ZEALAND: Rob Nicol c Edwards b Bravo 32, Martin Guptill st Ramdin b Narine 11, Ross Taylor retired hurt 10, Kane Williamson c and b Sammy 10, Tim Southee st Ramdin b Narine 23, Tom Latham run out 15, Jacob Oram c Bravo b Edwards 27, Dean Brownlie run out 0, Nathan McCullum lbw b Narine 0, Doug Bracewell n.o 11,Ronnie Hira absent hurt. Extras: (8lb, 6w) 14. Total: (all out in 18.3 overs) 153. FoW: 1-38, 2-72, 384, 4-114, 5-115, 6-116, 7-124, 8-153. NB: Taylor retired hurt at 1-51. Bowling: Fidel Edwards 3.3-0-25-1, Samuel Badree 4-0-33-0, Sunil Narine 4-0-34-3, Marlon Samuels 2-0-14-0, Darren Sammy 2-0-13-1, Dwayne Bravo 3-0-26-1. Bravo.
Earlier, Dwayne Smith started the six-hitting frenzy after New Zealand had sent in the West Indies, smashing two in scoring 17 off 13 deliveries before he was bowled by paceman Doug Bracewell to make it 27-1. Gayle and Johnson Charles (24) put on a stand of 74 before Charles topedged Kane Williamson to backward point. Pollard launched his first ball for six and was in devastating mood throughout.
Gayle reached his halfcentury in 42 balls, while Pollard was even more rapid, his milestone taking just 24 deliveries. Gayle lashed Bracewell for four sixes in one over as West Indies reached their highest Twenty20 total. — AP