Zimbabwe blown away by Gayle-storm

Photo: Yahoo!

Chris Gayle announced his coming back to form in an emphatic manner as he slammed a record-breaking innings of 215 runs against Zimbabwe that secured West Indies their second victory in three matches after a disastrous opening to their world cup encounter. In the end it was a comfortable victory for the Carribeans by 73 runs which had the essence of Gayle’s innings written all over it.

Batting first West Indies made the worst possible start losing opener Dwayne Smith in the second ball of the innings for a duck. However Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels made sure that the early loss of wicket did not have any impact on the rest of innings as they carried on for the 48.4 overs left after Smith’s dismissal till Gayle got out on the final ball. In the process Gayle (215) got to his double hundred and became the first player to score a double hundred in the history of the world cups. His innings totally shadowed Marlon Samuels’s innings of 133 runs which was equally effective. Together they scored 372 runs in the second wicket partnership which is now a new world record for most number runs in a partnership for any wicket. Gayle’s innings was decorated with 16 massive hits over the boundary and 10 boundaries. Samuels, playing a second fiddle to Gayle hit 11 fours and 3 sixes as well and allowed Gayle to play his natural game.

It was always an improbable task for the Zimbabweans to chase that target of 373 runs in 50 overs. And the inevitable happened. Rain interruption at Canberra reduced the match to 48 overs and the target was revised to 363. But that did not make much of a difference as West Indies wrapped the Zimbabwean innings in 44.3 overs. It was an easy win in the end for the Carribeans by 73 runs.

Gayle’s innings is bound to send strong message to the other teams in this world cup that a loss here and there does not mean that they cannot win the trophy. The other teams should get aware of the threat that the Carribeans bear for they have more than just a formidable side. And with Gayle firing all cylinders they might just be able to turn the tables in their favour.

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About Argha Ghosh

An ardent follower of sports and die-hard Manchester United fan, Argha's ultimate dream is to watch a Manchester derby from the Stretford End at the Old Trafford.