GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia – West Indies batsman Chris Gayle spoke to members of the media following the fifth and final match of the Colonial Medical Insurance One-Day International at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
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Gayle, playing his 289th match, smashed the fastest ODI half century by a West Indian after rookie pacer Oshane Thomas demolished England for a record low score. This led the Windies to an emphatic seven-wicket victory to level the five-match rubber 2-2.
West Indies bowled England for 113 in the 29th over – the visitors’ lowest ever ODI total against the hosts – with the 22-year-old Thomas taking a career-best 5-21 from just 31 balls to be awarded the Colonial Medical Insurance Man-of-the -Match prize.
He was well supported by Jason Holder (2-28) and Carlos Brathwaite (2-17), while Sheldon Cottrell held three catches in the outfield, and keeper Shai Hope held four behind the stumps – including his 50th in this format.
Gayle then stormed to a 19-ball half-century, en route to an amazing 77 from just 27 deliveries, as the hosts eased to their target in the 13th over. The experienced left-hander powered five fours and nine massive sixes. He finished the series with 424 runs at average of 106. He counted a record 39 sixes – the most in a bilateral series – and was named Colonial Medical Insurance Player-of-the -Match award.
“It is an honour to wear the crest and entertain the people around the Caribbean. West Indies is Number 1. This is the best achievement you can have in the Caribbean as a cricketer. This is the best thing, to be honest with you. It was a fantastic series to be able to tie the series two-all. I thought both teams played well. Today our bowlers were fantastic so you have to give credit to them. Oshane did a great job and happy for him to get his first five-wicket haul for West Indies.”
SCORES: England 113 off 28.1 overs (Jos Buttler 23, Alex Hales 23; Oshane Thomas 5-21, Carlos Brathwaite 2-17, Jason Holder 2-28) West Indies 115-3 off 12.1 overs (Chris Gayle 77; Mark Wood 2-55)
Colonial Medical Insurance ODI Series Schedule
1st Colonial Medical Insurance ODI – Wednesday, February 20
England won by 6 wickets – Kensington Oval, Barbados
2nd Colonial Medical Insurance ODI – Friday, February 22
West Indies won by 26 runs – Kensington Oval, Barbados
3rd Colonial Medical Insurance ODI – Monday, February 25
No result due to rain – Grenada National Stadium, Grenada
4th Colonial Medical Insurance ODI – Wednesday, February 27
England won by 29 runs – Grenada National Stadium, Grenada
5th Colonial Medical Insurance ODI– Saturday, March 2
West Indies won by 7 wickets – Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia
-CWI
