Super Eights kick-off with Super Over finish-Match

Agencies

Pallekele: A brilliant all-round performance by Chris Gayle led West Indies to a stunning 15-run win over defending champion England in the Super Eights of the World Twenty20 on Thursday. While Gayle dominated the second match of the day in Pallakele, it took a real team effort from hosts Sri Lanka in the first game, where they just about beat New Zealand in the tournament’s first Super Over finish.

But it was Gayle’s antics that the fans in stadium — who were treated to two mouth watering contests on the day — will remember the most.

Gayle smashed 58 off 35 balls and featured in a century stand with Johnson Charles, who made 84 off 56 deliveries in West Indies’ total of 179-5. West Indies’ four-pronged spin attack then exposed England top order’s vulnerability to slow bowling on subcontinent wickets, restricting the reply to 164-4 in the Group 1 match.

Eoin Morgan hit an unbeaten 71 off 36 balls and Alex Hales scored 68 off 51 balls before he was bowled in the last over.

Morgan showed the way for England, smashing four boundaries and five sixes, but by the time the lefthander arrived at the crease his team required 125 in the last 10 overs.

Needing 23 off the last over, Morgan smashed Marlon Samuels for straight four off the first ball but the offspinner conceded just further four runs. Gayle bowled an impressive spell of 1-27 off four overs, taking the wicket of Jonny Bairstow. He then celebrated the dismissal by simulating the lassoing-action dancing in the popular “Gangnam style.’’

Ravi Rampaul had earlier derailed England’s run chase by taking two wickets in successive balls with England yet to score. Sammy kept the pressure on by tying up one end with spin.

Dilshan to the rescue

Meanwhile, in the first game, Tillakaratne Dilshan cracked a scintillating 76 but it was Lasith Malinga’s tight bowling that scripted Sri Lanka’s thrilling tie-break victory.

New Zealand capitalised on a strong start provided by openers Rob Nicol (58) and Martin Guptill (38) to post 174 for seven wickets after skipper Ross Taylor decided to bat first.

Sri Lanka’s response was even better as Dilshan and Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene (44) added 80 runs in about seven overs in the group one match.

Requiring eight runs off the last over sent down by Tim Southee, Sri Lanka managed seven to finish on 174 for six and forcing the Super Over where a team nominate three batsmen to face six deliveries from a rival bowler.

Sri Lanka scored 13 runs off Southee’s over and then unleashed Lasith Malinga who conceded eight runs while removing Guptill to clinch the contest that brought alive the tournament.

Brief scores: Match 1: NZ 174/7 (R Nicol 58, M Guptil 38) v SL 174/6 (T Dilshan 76, M Jayawardene 44). Super Over: SL 13/1, NZ 6/1; Match 2: WIs 179/5 (J Charles 84, C Gayle 58, C Broad 2/26) vs Eng 164/4 (A Hales 68, E Morgan 71*, R Rampaul 2/27)