Lauderhill (Florida), July 2:
Chris Gayle smashed his second successive fifty and spinner Sunil Narine claimed 4-12 as West Indies romped to a 61-run victory over New Zealand to win 2-0 in the Twenty20 series in Florida.
Gayle’s 53 off 39 balls set up the Caribbean side’s formidable total of 177-5 off 20 overs at Central Broward Regional Park yesterday. Johnson Charles (36) and Dwayne Bravo (35 not out) provided valuable support.
Offspinner Nathan McCullum took 2-19 from three overs. New Zealand’s run chase never reached the required impetus, with no batsman managing to pass 22 as it was bowled out for 116 off 18.4 overs.
There were two wickets apiece for Bravo (2-23) and Marlon Samuels (2-25). Gayle slammed an unbeaten 85 on Saturday in West Indies’ 56-run win at the same venue.
West Indies, after winning the toss, made another frenetic start with Dwayne Smith cracking two sixes in the first over before he fell for 13 to paceman Doug Bracewell’s first delivery, top-edging a pull for a return catch.
But Gayle, after a slow start, and Charles soon set a strong platform in their busy partnership. Charles fell to make it 86-2 in the 12th over, pulling Rob Nicol to short fine leg.
McCullum eventually claimed Gayle, who was bowled swinging across the line, and Lendl Simmons, caught at deep square leg, in the same over as the Caribbean side slipped to 124-4 after 16 overs. (Agencies)
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