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Gayle ton fails to stop S Africa

September 13, 2007 00:00:00


Chris Gayle struck the first Twenty20 international ton but South Africa beat West Indies by eight wickets in the opening match of the ICC World event, reports BBC.
Gayle blasted 10 sixes, another record, in a pulsating 117 from 57 balls.
Graeme Smith was hit painfully on the hand off the first ball as South Africa chased 206 but the Windies missed three catches and leaked a record 23 wides.
Herschelle Gibbs, with a runner, fired 13 fours and two sixes in an epic 90 to seal victory with 14 balls remaining.
The bright lights and carnival atmosphere even affected the languid Gayle, who skipped out to the wicket like a prize fighter.
Freed from the pressure of captaincy, the Jamaican flicked Shaun Pollock over mid-wicket for the opening six in the third over and then dished out the punishment to Makhaya Ntini.
A lofted drive straight down the ground was followed next ball by a stupendous towering stroke that soared like a firework into the second tier at long-off.
Another extraordinary stroke brought him six more as he leant back to slice over third man and before long he dispatched the ball clean out of the massive Wanderers stadium.
South Africa 208-2 (17.4 ovs) bt West Indies 205-6 (20 ovs) by 8 wkts

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