Gayle walloped nine boundaries and seven sixes during his knock of 90
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
West Indies opener Chris Gayle and all-rounder Marlon Samuels both made half-centuries to help their side chase down a record total during the second Twenty20 International against South Africa in Johannesburg.
However, South Africa captain Faf du Plessis deserves a lot of credit for his magnificent knock of 119.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy would have been pleased with his decision to bowl first as South Africa opener Morne van Wyk was caught by Kieron Pollard at point off the bowling of Sulieman Benn for four runs.
Rilee Rossouw scored 15 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Jason Holder.
Du Plessis and David Miller stabilised the innings with a 105-run partnership, during which du Plessis brought up his half-century, before Miller was run out when Andre Russell kicked the ball onto the stumps.
Miller’s excellent knock of 47 runs came off 26 balls and included four boundaries and three sixes.
Justin Ontong scored 19 runs before he was caught by Holder at short third man off the bowling of Dwayne Bravo.
Du Plessis and Farhaan Behardien amassed a 66-run partnership, during which du Plessis registered his maiden century, before he was caught by Bravo at long-on off the bowling of Holder.
Du Plessis’ career-best knock of 119 came off 56 balls and included 11 boundaries and five sixes.
Du Plessis scored the second-fastest century in Twenty20 International history
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
David Wiese mustered six runs before he was caught by Dwayne Smith at long-off off the bowling of Bravo.
Kyle Abbott scored two runs before he was run out by Denesh Ramdin.
Thanks to du Plessis, South Africa finished on 231/7 off their 20 overs.
Bravo and Holder picked up two wickets apiece, while Benn chipped in with one.
Chasing 232 to win, the West Indies got off to a horrible start as Smith was given out lbw off the bowling of Marchant de Lange for 17.
Gayle and Samuels made up for the early loss of Smith with a 152-run partnership, during which both batsmen recorded their half-centuries, before Gayle was caught behind off the bowling of Wiese.
Gayle’s spectacular knock of 90 came off 41 balls and included nine boundaries and seven sixes.
Samuels went on to score 60 off 39 deliveries, which included seven boundaries and two sixes, before he was caught by Behardien at wide long-on off the bowling of Wiese.
Samuels played some dazzling shots during his innings of 60
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Wiese struck again just four balls later when Pollard was caught by Behardien at long-on for seven runs.
Russell made a quickfire 14 before he was caught by Miller at long-off off the bowling of Abbott.
Bravo fared no better as he was caught by Ontong at long-off off the bowling of Aaron Phangiso for 10 runs.
Sammy and Ramdin put together an unbeaten 27-run partnership to seal the deal for the West Indies.
Sammy scored 20 off seven balls, which included two boundaries and a six, while Ramdin remained undefeated on seven off four deliveries, which included one boundary.
Wiese was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Abbott, de Lange and Phangiso claimed one wicket each.
Du Plessis was gutted to have lost the match, and said: “It’s my first T20 hundred, you don’t think they’ll come along, but I struck it well today but it’s bittersweet. I thought I was going to pass out at the end of my innings. I said at half time this game is very far from done, nothing it out of their reach. Obviously Gayle played so well up top, it’s so difficult to contain him. We got him out and brought it back really well but the hitters keep coming. We didn’t land our execution to start with but it’s hard to control a yorker with the new ball. If you miss he punishes everything.”
Sammy was over the moon to have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, and said: “At half-time all the boys were positive, we just had to break it down. Two guys had to get 50 striking at 190 and the rest had to chip in and that’s what happened. To add the finishing touches was nice but I feel for Faf to play that innings and lose. Cricket was the winner today. We were dominated in the Tests but we have different energy in this series and this here shows why we’ve won a T20 World Cup, this is our format.”
Gayle edged out du Plessis for the Man of the Match award.