Chris Gayle Destroys Australia in Twenty20 Opener

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.

The opening pair did not let the team down, getting off to an aggressive start both batters found the boundary very early, including a huge six from Andre Fletcher, which made the Aussie bowlers, Lee and Johnson look decidedly average.

With Fletcher speeding away, the score reached forty from just 20 deliveries and the pressure was suddenly on Australia, and it showed as Mike Hussey failed to even get a hand onto an easy catch as Fletcher mis-timed a wild slog.

Not wanting to be out done by his opening partner, Gayle proceeded to demolish Brett Lee, who was bowling at over 90 mph, smashing three sixes and a four in an over that went for 27 leaving the West Indies on 83 at the end of the sixth over.

Chris Gayle passed 50 in the fastest time ever for a West Indian, just 23 deliveries, and his pace didn’t slow with the bowling, as he smashed two sixes from spinner David Hussey’s first over.

Fletcher (53), forced into a supporting role by Gayle’s amazing stroke play, was eventually caught out by a quick short ball from Johnson, just one delivery after reaching his 50, and, unlike his brother Mike, David Hussey held on to the catch and sent the entertaining batsmen back to the pavilion.

The game was already far beyond Australia’s reach when they eventually got the wicket of Gayle, who was caught in the deep from Brett Lee’s bowling, after making an unbelievable 88 from just 50 deliveries. 

Gayle’s dismissal left the team needing just 13 to win from five overs, and despite Hopes holding onto a catch from Xavier Marshal (8), Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan saw the West Indies home to a convincing victory with more than four overs to spare.

England’s batters could learn a lot from Gayle, and Australian David Warner, who both played fast paced innings’ consisting of many boundaries and a lot of runs, but most importantly, no improvised shots or outrageous wild swings, just great timing, good placement and aggressive cricket shots.

Australia, like England, now need to win their tough second group game to stand a chance of qualifying for the super eights phase of the tournament.