Gayle: Batting a problem

NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC):

Chris Gayle has asked his fellow batsmen to do some serious soul-searching, after senseless batting condemned West Indies to a one-run defeat to South Africa in the second and final Twenty20 International yesterday.

The batting again let West Indies down, as they finished on 119 for seven from their allocation of 20 overs, replying to South Africa's 120 for seven from 20 overs at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

"I think they think about what they need to do, but it is a pressure situation, and the mindset is just not right," said the West Indies captain.

"I do not know if they are too worried about their position in the batting order, or their place in the team too much, or something else, but they have to free up. They have to go out there with a free mind and play some good cricket."

Gayle acknowledged that the batting has been a problem in recent matches, but he felt powerless to do much more than he does right now.

Redeem themselves

"It's up to the individual," he said. "They have to look into themselves and try to redeem themselves as much as possible. I cannot do it for them. I have a lot about which to think as well, so it's up to them."

He added: "The batting is a big concern for us, and I do not know what will happen in the 50-over-a-side format. It is something the selectors would have to examine and determine the way forward."

"We are playing against one of the best teams in the world. You might not get a lot of support because we are playing bad cricket, so that is expected. At the same time, things may appear flat in comparison because both teams are coming out of the T20 World Cup and did not do well."

Gayle was hugely disappointed that West Indies could not cross the threshold, but he felt there was one part of the team's game that was functioning.

"Credit must go to the bowlers," he said. "I thought they bowled well on an up-and-down pitch, so we must give credit to the bowlers."

SCOREBOARD

South Africa(20 overs maximum)

G. Smith b Taylor 15L. Bosman c wk Fletcher b Taylor 0+A. de Villiers c Bravo b Sammy 19J. Duminy c wk Fletcher b Sammy 13A. Petersen lbw b Benn 8D. Miller run out (+Fletcher/Taylor) 33J. Botha c Sarwan b Taylor 23R. McLaren not out 2Extras (b1, lb4, w2) 7TOTAL (7 wkts, 20 overs) 120

M. Morkel, D. Steyn, L. Tsotsobe did not bat

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Bosman, 1.3 overs); 2-27 (Smith, 5.1); 3-42 (de Villiers, 7.5); 4-57 (Duminy, 11.2); 5-59 (Petersen, 12.1); 6-116 (Botha, 19.1); 7-120 (Miller, 19.6)

Bowling: Roach 4-0-24-0 (w1); Taylor 4-1-15-3; Benn 3-0-26-1; Bravo 4-0-20-0; Sammy 4-0-16-2; Pollard 1-0-14-0 (w1)

West Indies(target: 121 off 20 overs)

C. Gayle lbw b Steyn 0+A. Fletcher c wk de Villiers b Morkel 4D. Bravo c Botha b Morkel 40S. Chanderpaul c wk de Villiers b Botha 29K. Pollard c Steyn b Botha 12R. Sarwan c McLaren b Botha 6D. Sammy not out 12N. Deonarine run out (Botha/+de Villiers) 3J. Taylor not out 1Extras (b5, lb2, w5) 12TOTAL (7 wkts, 20 overs) 119

S. Benn, K. Roach did not bat

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Gayle, 0.6 overs); 2-9 (+Fletcher, 2.5); 3-77 (Chanderpaul, 14.4); 4-87 (Bravo, 16.1); 5-97 (Sarwan, 18.1); 6-99 (Pollard, 18.3); 7-118 (Deonarine, 19.5)

Bowling: Steyn 4-0-18-1 (w2); Tsotsobe 4-0-28-0; Morkel 4-0-15-2 (w2); Botha 4-0-22-3; McLaren 4-0-29-0

Result: South Africa won by one run

Series: South Africa win two-match series 2-0

Toss: West Indies

Man of the Match: Johan Botha (South Africa)