CricketViewer.com

West Indies captain Chris Gayle admitted his dismissal had been crucial as his team tumbled to a fourth consecutive one-day international defeat to Australia on Friday.

Chasing 283 for victory, the Windies looked to be on course to clinch their first win of the five-match series in Basseterre at 188 for two in the 34th over.

But Gayle’s departure to Shane Watson for 92 slowed down the charge and the hosts finished their 50 overs on 281 for six as Australia claimed a one-run win.

“I thought myself and (Ramnaresh) Sarwan really set the foundation,” said Gayle.

“Sarwan getting out in the end and the manner in which I got out as well… I was very disappointed. I really take the blame for that, I should have carried on and get a hundred and seen the team home.”

The 28-year-old felt it necessary to apologise to the home fans who turned out at Warner Park for the way his team threw away such a promising position.

“We apologise for the loss,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “I would have given up these runs (his 92) to actually get a victory today.

“We really need to give the fans something, I’m really disappointed to come out on the losing side again.

“We still have one more game to go (the fifth ODI on Sunday) and we’re going to play it hard again.”

While Gayle was downbeat after his side’s defeat, Australia captain Michael Clarke was in contrast happy with his side’s fighting spirit.

The 27-year-old, standing in for injured skipper Ricky Ponting, thought his team were “probably 20 or 30 short with the bat” but was delighted with how they stuck to their guns in the field.

“I never thought it was gone,” Clarke told Sky News Australia.

“That was probably one thing we spoke about before we went out on the field, to make sure… no matter what we always believed that we could win the game.

“We just kept fighting and we got the result we were after.”

Clarke will again lead Australia at Warner Park on Sunday as the tourists look to complete a series whitewash.

Source: Cricket365