T20: Gayle, Pollard shine in big win over New Zealand

Chris Gayle made 85 off 52 balls

Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle amazed New Zealand during a 108-run quick partnership as West Indies claim victory in the first T20 match at Florida, USA.


Gayle (85) played a calm innings with Smith (17) and Charles (24) to build the platform before Pollard joined to began the assault after the fall of the second wicket at 101 runs on 13.1 overs. 

New Zealand was disappointing with bowling and fielding. Their lines and lengths were unimaginative and inconsistent; they conceded 13 runs in wides and bowled three no-balls; and they missed a stumping, a run-out and a catch.

West Indies took full advantage of their weakness. Pollard hit his first and third balls for six, long-distance blows over long-off and long-on off the spinner Kane Williamson. His seventh, off Rob Nicol, also disappeared over long-off. Pollard took charge of the partnership from there on, and Gayle cruised in his slipstream. In the 17th over, Pollard top-edged a pull off Oram towards fine leg, where Taylor circled under the swirling ball and fell hard on his shoulder as he dropped the catch. He would retire hurt at the end of the sixth over of the chase because of that injury.

The penultimate over was the most expensive of the innings. Pollard sent a length ball from Doug Bracewell over the straight boundary to go past 50 off his 24th ball, and then Gayle powered one six flat over long-on, burning McCullum's hands in the process, and sent two more far over deep midwicket to take 26 runs off the 19th over. Fifteen more came in the 20th, as West Indies amassed 209.

New Zealand had scored 37 in four overs when Sunil Narine got the break through. He delivered his first ball was down leg side but Guptill had come out of his crease and overbalanced, leaving Denesh Ramdin with a sharp stumping to complete. In the next over, after scoring 1 off his first eight balls, Taylor cut Samuel Badree for two fours. He winced and clutched his shoulder after each of those shots, and eventually went off the field.

Wickets began to fall regularly after that and the asking-rate soared out of reach. West Indies grew sharper in the field as well, effecting two run outs with direct hits. The game ended when Oram skied a catch to long-off in the penultimate over. New Zealand were nine down but Hira had a compound fracture and did not bat.

Score Card