Cricket news: Gayle and Smith build solid start
25 oversWest Indies 141 for 1 (Gayle 66*, Bravo 10*) against Netherlands
Chris Gayle and Devon Smith eased to half-centuries as West Indies made smooth progress in their must-win game with Netherlands at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi.
After the World Cup ignited with a nerve-shredding encounter in Bangalore on Sunday proceedings today were always going look a touch sluggish. Canada’s pathetic showing against Zimbabwe didn’t help and the thing most likely to rouse spirits would have been a Chris Gayle special.
As if aware of his responsibilities Gayle seemed uncharacteristically sombre, skulking to six off his first 23 deliveries before sparking into action. He was helped by Devon Smith’s silky form at the other end. After slicing past slip from the first delivery of the day, Smith looked in total control, driving smoothly and feasting on some loose offerings from Netherlands’ bowlers.
Given the shin-high bounce and speedy outfield, Peter Borren’s decision to field first was puzzling. While it displays the confidence he has in his batsmen to chase, he could regret it if Gayle carries West Indies out of reach. Borren was not helped by his bowlers though, who could not match the intensity or discipline they showed against England.
Having managed to keep Gayle pinned down early on, Ryan ten Doeschate’s first over shattered the shackles. Three clean strikes through cover got Gayle going, before two more boundaries helped down the leg side in the following over confirmed the worst for Netherlands.
With Gayle up and running, Smith could coast along in the slipstream. Instead, as so often happens, he squandered a good start when he drove loosely outside off stump. There was no devil in the delivery but Smith contrived a way to fall. His continued disappointment is symptomatic of a wasted generation of West Indies cricket but his replacement, Darren Bravo, is bursting with optimism.
He showed flashes of his talent while Gayle continued to build menacingly. It’s important that West Indies finish the job they’ve started well here after their sluggish showing against South Africa. When the groups for the tournament were announced they looked the one of the big nine Test nations that could exit early but if Gayle rediscovers his destructive best, they could spring a surprise.
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