Gayle Inspires West Indies To win over PCA Masters
The West Indies beat the The PCA Masters, sponsored by Sodexho, by 56 runs today in an eagerly awaited Twenty20 clash in the picturesque settings of Arundel Castle Cricket Ground. In excess of 5000 people flocked to the West Sussex town to witness the encounter which precludes the NatWest International Twenty20 matches against England at the Oval later this week.
After a prolonged shower, West Indies captain Chris Gayle won the toss and elected to bat against a vastly experienced Masters side, led by former England opening batsman Nick Knight, which contained no fewer than ten players who had performed at international level.
Gayle himself opened the batting with Devon Smith, setting the tone with a brutal square cut from the second ball of the day, delivered by Surrey’s Azhar Mahmood. The carnage continued with Gayle in belligerent mood, smashing 30 runs from a single Dean Headley over.
Kiwi Nathan Astle eventually made the breakthrough, bowling Gayle for 73 – a scintillating innings compiled in just 34 deliveries with twelve boundaries. With Devon Smith making 77 not out and Marlon Samuels also unbeaten on 41, the West Indies finished their innings on 198 for the loss of just one wicket after their twenty overs.
Pick of the Masters bowlers was Essex off spinner James Middlebrook and former England all rounder Chris Lewis, who both completed their allotted four overs with economy rates of less than eight runs per over. An impressive feat given the West Indies total.
The Masters decided to fight fire with fire, opening up with the big hitting duo of Nathan Astle and Rikki Clarke. Although Clarke was bowled without score, Azhar Mahmood set about the West Indies attack along with Astle, the pair adding 57 before the Kiwi was caught and bowled by Marlon Samuels in the fifth over.
Mahmood drove with conviction, the highlight of his innings a superb straight six from the off spin of Samuels. But it was the bowler who had the last laugh, skidding the ball through Mahmood to end his innings of 41 from 26 deliveries.
Masters wickets continued to fall as the West Indies tightened their grip on the game. Samuels with four wickets was the pick of the bowlers, while Fidel Edwards built up serious pace in his three over workout. The Masters were eventually all out for 142, leaving the West Indies to take the spoils in a 56 run victory.
Click here for the scorecard from this game.
The PCA Masters would like to thank the Duke of Norfolk for his kind invitation to host the game. The next fixture for the Masters sees them take on the Yorkshire Academy at Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club on Thursday.
PCA Masters XI v West Indies
Nick Knight (captain), Warwickshire & England;
Nathan Astle, New Zealand
Robin Smith, Hampshire & England
Rikki Clarke, Surrey & England
James Foster (wicket keeper), Essex & England
Azhar Mahmood, Surrey & Pakistan
James Middlebrook, Essex
Chris Lewis, Leicestershire & England
Martin Bicknell, Surrey & England
Chris Schofield, Surrey & England
Dean Headley, Kent & England
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