Gayle’s scorching century gives Windies victory

Chris Gayle smashed a blazing century to lead the West Indies to a 90-run victory over the Australian Prime Minister’s Eleven in their rain-reduced one-day tour match at Manuka Oval today.



West Indies, sent to bat, scored 399 for five off 45 overs with Gayle smashing 146 laced with 14 fours and eight sixes.



The big left-hander reached fifty off 23 balls and a hundred off 57 balls before completing his whirlwind 89-ball innings, four short of the 150-mark.



He shared in a double-century opening stand with Travis Dowlin, who scored 72 off 82 balls.



Lendl Simmons, batting at Number three sustained a daunting run-rate for the Windies with an unbeaten 70 off 49 balls with nine fours and a six.



Tom Cooper then lashed a splendid hundred, 160 off 120 balls with 14 fours and six sixes.



However, there were no other significant scorers for the Prime Minister’s Eleven and the West Indies romped to an easy win ahead of their first One day International against Australia on Sunday.



Left-arm spinner Nikita Miller was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with three for 51 off nine overs, while medium pacer Darren Sammy claimed two for 37.