Gayle, Samuels take West Indies to 191/8 vs Australia

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Smashing half-centuries from Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels helped West Indies post a competitive 191 for eight against Australia in their opening group league encounter of the ICC World Twenty20 here on Saturday.

While Gayle made a blistering 33-ball 54, Samuels didn't lag behind as he raced his way to a 32-ball 50 with almost all the West Indian batsmen making merry on a Premadasa strip where ball came onto the bat nicely.

The mayhem started in the fifth over bowled by young Pat Cummins.

After getting a measure of the bowlers during the first 12 deliveries, Gayle decided to cut loose. The first was a typical swat over point and the next two were pull shots in front of the square and then came the first six which was hit over deep square-leg.

The over yielded 18 runs and West Indies were off the blocks.

While Dan Christian forced Johnson Charles (16) to play one onto his stumps, Gayle has got the momentum going in his favour by hitting the bowler for a boundary.

When chinaman bowler Bradd Hogg came on to bowl, he just plonked his frontfoot and lifted him over long-on atleast 10 metres past the ropes.

There was no stopping Gayle as he then launched into off-break bowler Glenn Maxwell. He stood his ground and hit him over long-on and then into the deep mid-wicket stands to race to 46.

He reached his 50 with a lucky boundary as he played all over the delivery that missed his leg-stump by a whisker. The half century came in only 26 deliveries.

At that point of time, Australian skipper Bailey had no option but set a defensive field in order to save the boundaries that were coming freely.

Finally, it was left to Australia's 'Go-To Man' Shane Watson, who came back for his second spell to remove Gayle.