CricketViewer.com

Chris Gayle smashed 133 not out to power holders West Indies into their third International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy final with a six-wicket victory over South Africa at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Thursday.

The 27-year-old Jamaican stroked his third hundred of the tournament after a 154-run opening partnership with fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul to guide the West Indies to 262 for four in 44 overs in reply to South Africa’s 258 for eight.

The West Indies now play world champions Australia in the final at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.

Gayle’s second successive hundred, and 15th overall, was studded with 17 fours and three sixes as he continued to the end after Chanderpaul retired hurt with cramp.

Earlier yesterday, Herschelle Gibbs top-scored with 77 for South Africa after skipper Graeme Smith elected to bat first.

On Wednesday, world champions Australia defeated New Zealand by 34 runs in the first semifinal played at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium in Mohali.

After being put in to bat first, Australia scored 240-9 off their 50 overs with skipper Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds (both 58) being the highest scoreres. The Aussies then dismissed Stephen Fleming’s men for 206 in 46 overs.

Scoreboard

South Africa won toss

South Africa

*G C Smith b Taylor 19

L L Bosman c Gayle b Samuels 39

J H Kallis c Sarwan b Bravo 16

H H Gibbs c Lara b Bravo 77

A B de Villiers run out (Lara) 46

J M Kemp b Bradshaw 3

†M V Boucher c Sarwan b Samuels 16

S M Pollock b Taylor 4

R J Peterson not out 15

A Nel not out 0

Extras (b1, lb6, w15, nb1) 23

Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) 258

Did not bat: M Ntini

Fall: 1-27, 2-65, 3-96, 4-188, 5-195, 6-219, 7-227, 8-256

Bowling: Bradshaw 10-0-58-1 (1nb, 2w); Taylor 10-1-48-2 (2w); Bravo 7-0-41-2 (4w); Smith 4-1-12-0 (1w); Gayle 10-0-48-0 (1w); Samuels 9-0-44-2 (1w)

West Indies

C H Gayle not out 133

S Chanderpaul retired hurt 57

R R Sarwan lbw b Ntini 27

D J Bravo run out (Smith) 15

*B C Lara c & b Smith 9

R S Morton c de Villiers b Peterson 0

M N Samuels not out 5

Extras (lb8, w6, nb2) 16

Total (4 wkts, 44 overs) 262

Did not bat: D R Smith, †C S Baugh, I D R Bradshaw, J E Taylor

Fall: 1-196, 2-226, 3-243, 4-244

Bowling: Pollock 5-0-34-0 (1w); Ntini 7-0-49-1 (1nb, 1w); Nel 10-1-59-0 (2w); Smith 10-0-43-1; Kallis 5-0-33-0 (1nb, 1w); Peterson 7-0-36-1 (1w)

Result: West Indies won by 6 wickets

Series: West Indies advance to final

Man of the Match: Chris Gayle

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and S J A Taufel (Australia). TV umpire: D J Harper (Australia). Match referee: J J Crowe (New Zealand)

Note: S Chanderpaul retired hurt at 154-0 (57*, 26 overs)

Next match: November 5 (Sunday) Final, Australia v West Indies (Mumbai, d/n)

Source:The News

Capture the Conversation tells you what people are saying right now!

Share on Twitter | StumbleUpon | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook