(Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
Chris Gayle’s fantastic innings of 88 led the West Indies to a convincing victory over a strong Australia team.
Despite two wickets falling the first over of the game, a desperate fielding performance from the West Indies allowed Australia to make 169-7, but with Chris Gayle and Andre Fletcher both passing 50, that score proved to be well short, as the game was won with more than twenty deliveries remaining.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, English, and indeed all cricket fans were looking forward to getting a first look at big hitting sensation David Warner as he opened the innings at an overcast Oval.
Warner however, was merely a spectator as Jerome Taylor struck twice in his first over, removing both Shane Watson (caught) and Ricky Ponting (lbw) before either could score a run. Indeed it wasn’t until the fall of Michael Clarke (2) to Fidel Edwards, which brought wicket-keeper Brad Haddin to the crease, that the Aussies, and Warner, got going.
Helped by some poor West Indian ground fielding the pair brought up their 50 partnership in the 11th over, but shortly afterwards the partnership was broken as Brad Haddin looped a catch to Suilamen Benn from the bowling of Leon Pollard after an impressive 24.
But it was Warner who impressed most, showing he is not just a big hitter, but that he is also capable of anchoring an innings, using a combination of big hitting and sensible strokes to bring up his own half century in just 42 deliveries.
The Australian 100 was brought up with a huge six from David Hussey in the fourteenth over as he and opener Warner accelerated towards the end of the innings.
Warner eventually fell for 63 as Benn held on to a good catch after the opener connected with a Dwayne Bravo full toss. But that did not slow the Aussies down as David (27) and Mike Hussey continued to score freely, again aided by some terrible fielding, before David was eventually caught.
Brother Mike remained unbeaten at the end to post a valuable 28 from just 15 balls with the help of cameo appearances from Mitchell Johnson (9) and Bret Lee (1*).
The West Indies will be bitterly disappointed they were unable to capitalise on a fantastic start, but they only have themselves to blame, with an atrocious fielding performance letting the Australians off the hook, and putting more pressure on the top order batsmen to perform.
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