At The Oval, June 6.West Indies won by seven wickets. West Indies 2 pts. Toss: Australia.
This match was decided by Chris Gayle's batting. Others pitched in, but it was Gayle's
power that left the lasting impression - almost literally in the case of the road outside
Archbishop Tenison's School and the roof of the Bedser Stand. He slammed his first and
third balls for four, but really got going in Lee's third over. A six over midwicket to
Tenison's was followed by a dot ball and a six on to the Bedser beyond long-on; then
came another dot before the fifth delivery, a no-ball, was thumped to cover for four, and
the free hit to long-off for four more; the last was a six to midwicket. Twenty-seven came
off the over as West Indies reached a blistering 83 for none by the end of the powerplay,
while Lee nursed figures of 3-0-51-0. It wasn't much quieter at the other end, with
Fletcher, who initially outscored his captain, pummelling a 31-ball fifty; Gayle needed 23
for his. The pair had put on 133, the third-highest partnership in Twenty20 internationals,
when Fletcher departed in the 12th over, by when the result was clear. Earlier, Australia
had begun dreadfully, withWatson and Ponting, who got in a muddle and missed a straight ball, gone in the first over, from Taylor. Despite being troubled by Edwards's pace,Warner
played an aggressive hand to build the recovery from 15 for three. Setting a target of 170
was an achievement, but against Gayle on song, it was nothing like enough.
Man of the Match: C. H. Gayle. Attendance: 18,731.