South Africa Cruise Opener Of World Twenty20
12th September, 2007
Day one of the inaugral Twenty20 World Championships saw some impressive cricket from both sides, with good and bad records set by the losing West Indies side. With West Indies batting first, captain Chris Gayle hit the first international Twenty20 centruy, hitting 117 runs from just 57 balls to set up a good target of 205 for South Africa. His innings included ten sixes, doubling the previous a record for an international Twenty20 match. South Africa's bowlers then tried to contain the damage, restricting West Indies to 38 runs off the final five overs.
After the changeover, it was the usual story with West Indies in the field, with some good bowling from Bravo, and a return of the sloppy bowling that was evident of the tour in England. Herschelle Gibbs hit an unbeaten 90 from 55 balls, but was dropped twice by the West Indies fielders on the way to the score. Kemp was also dropped by Marlon Samuels. The momentum continued to swing the way of the South African's as the West Indies bowlers strayed off a true line from the outset, sending down a record 23 wides.
West Indies will now need to beat Bangladesh in their next match to have any hopes of progressing to the next stage. Today's Twenty20 fixtures are:
New Zealand vs Kenya, Pakistan vs Scotland, Australia vs Zimbabwe.
England are 9/1 to win the Twenty20 World Championships with Stan James.
