Gayle breaks promise of Windies glory
Sunday 7th February, 2010

Gayle predicted a 4-1 series win for the regional side over Australia in their One Day International series down under.

As someone remarked, if the plot was to lull their hosts into a false sense of security then things are going along as planned, this after the Aussies took a 113 run win in the series opener.

Windies captain Chris Gayle confidently asked Australia to bat first and the home side compiled 50 without loss in the opening 10 overs.

But then a breakthrough, Shaun Marsh edged a wide one from Dwyane Smith and was gone for 20.

The Captain was introduced and soon strode down the wicket to launch Dwayne Smith over long-off for six to pass 2,000 runs at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground).

There was then a gap of 10 overs without a boundary off the bat but before long Ponting was down the wicket again to dispatch slow left-armer Nikita Miller several rows back at long-off.

Watson was no slough either and proceeded to 59.

Tough was deceived in the flight by Gayle and fell at long-on.

Three overs later and Ponting was denied his half century by a run, Keiron Pollard finding the inside edge.

The Windies pegged Australia back admirably, and picked up wickets at regular intervals, Michael Clarke given out caught behind off Pollard.

Big-hitting Cameron white managed only one boundary before he was too early swinging at a slower ball and Denesh Ramdin took a good catch behind having initially been wrong-footed.

Then pollard took the scalp of Brad Haddin for eight to record his best ever haul of 3 for 45.

Ravi Rampaul accounted for Mike Hussey, he had second best figures of 2 for 43, Australia racking up 256 and the Windies would no doubt have been pleased to have restricted their hosts to little more than five and over.

But the batting line-up wouldn't produce similar heroics.

Gayle got the first four of the chase in the opening over.

But he didn't last long holding Doug Bollinger's delivery out to Mitchell Johnson at mid-off.

Runako Morton edged one and was gone for just three.

But a mere three balls later Travis Dowlin edged one moving across him from Bollinger to second slip.

 
Narsingh Deonarine had three fours to his credit.

Before he was brilliantly caught by a leaping Ponting at backward point.

Pollard shared 64 in 12 overs with Lendl Simmons.

The pair stemming the flow of wickets and adding some respect to the score.

Before Polllard attempted to take it up a notch only for Johnson to take the catch off Nathan Hauritz on the long on boundary. He top scored with 31.

Simmons departed in the next over, expertly caught low to his right by Haddin for 29 and the end was nigh.

Ravi Rampaul was the last out for 3. The Windies all out for 143 and Captain Gayle with some explaining to do.