 Gibbs fireworks overcome Gayle 'storm' in Twenty20 World Cup opener
12th Sep 2007 08:01 IST
Agencies
Palm tree hitter Chris Gayle's blistering hundred proved insufficient as South Africa rode on the fireworks of Herschelle Gibbs to overhaul a stiff target against West Indies by eight wickets, beginning in style their campaign in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship cricket tournament in Johannesburg on Tuesday night.
Gayle hit a 57-ball 117 to become the first batsman in this format of the game to score a hundred and help the West Indies pile up a mammoth 205/6.
However, Gibbs did not disappoint the enthusiastic home crowd and unleashed his trademark daredevil act to notch up an unbeaten 90 off 55 balls as the hosts cruised to a comfortable victory with 14 balls to spare.
South Africa had a flying start thanks to some quick scoring by openers captain Graeme Smith and Gibbs. Smith departed at the team total of 54, but that did not affect the run rate of the hosts.
A little later, AB de Villiers (16) fell to leave South Africa at 88/2 in 8.1 overs.
However, Justin Kemp joined Gibbs and both of them ruthlessly punished the West Indies bowlers, whose woes were compounded by poor fielding.
Especially Gibbs was severe on the Caribbeans as he struck 14 boundaries and two sixes in his innings.
Kemp also gave him good company by smashing 46 off just 22 balls, that included five fours and two sixes at an average of over 209.
Fidel Edwards was the most economical of the West Indian bowlers giving 21 runs in his three overs and claiming the wicket of de Villers.
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