Guyana, May 4 (Inditop.com) A smart piece of captaincy by Chris Gayle saw hosts West Indies book their Super Eight berth with a eight-wicket win, via the Duckworth Lewis, over England in their rain affected Group D match of the World Twenty20 at the Providence National Stadium here Monday.
Gayle justified his decision to bowl first with a fiery 25 from 12 balls, an innings that carried West Indies to a rain revised target of 60 by losing two wickets in 5.5 overs after England posted an imposing 191 for five.
Eoin Morgan was the top-scorer with 55 from 35 balls, and was involved in a 95-run stand for the fifth wicket by Luke Wright, who made 45 from 27.
The West Indies bowling looked like a hapless lot as the top order fired, with Craig Kieswetter (26), Michael Lumb (28) and Kevin Pietersen (24), coming up with useful contributions.
While chasing, Gayle made a thunderous start as 15 runs came up in the first over off Ryan Sidebottom and when the scoreboard read 30 for no loss in 2.3 overs, the rain gods came down heavily robbing nearly an hour’s play.
West Indies were set a revised target of 60 runs in six overs and they achieved it easily with one ball to spare with Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Andre Fletcher remaining unbeaten on 15 and 12 respectively.
Depsite the loss, England can still make the Super Eight and for that they have to overcome Ireland in their second group match Tuesday.