Cricket: Windies push India towards T20 exit

BRIDGETOWN - Captain Chris Gayle cracked 98 off 66 balls to inspire the West Indies to a 14-run victory over India in a Super Eights match at the World Twenty20 today.

The left-handed opener blasted five fours and seven sixes to anchor the hosts to 169-6 off 20 overs at Kensington Oval. India's pursuit was wrecked by the loss of early wickets and finished on 155-9.

Pace ace Kemar Roach took 2-38 while every other home bowler claimed one wicket.

Suresh Raina topscored for India with 32 off 25 balls.

The loss was India's second in the Super Eight phase and severely damaged its hopes of qualifying for the semifinals.

"In the tournament, the batting hasn't been up to expectations," India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said.

After winning the toss, India was on the back foot from the time Gayle dominated an opening stand of 80 off 11.5 overs with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who compiled 23 off 29 balls.

The powerful Jamaican began circumspectly before unleashing his power game, to the delight of a sell-out crowd of 13,000.

Gayle benefited from one chance, on 46, when wicket-keeper Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan collided trying to haul in a skier off Ashish Nehra.

After Chanderpaul departed, all-rounders Darren Sammy and Kieron Pollard maintained the tempo with quick cameos in the closing overs.

Sammy's 19 off 10 deliveries included two fours and a six while Pollard cleared the rope twice on his way to 17 off 11 balls.

Nehra grabbed 3-35, including two wickets in a brilliant final over.

India found the bouncy pitch and aggressive West Indies pace attack difficult to contend with and slipped to 38-3 in the eighth over.

Murali Vijay pulled to deep square leg off Darren Sammy, Gautam Gambhir fended a wicked lifter off Roach and Rohit Sharma fell to Kieron Pollard.

Flickers of hope were provided by Raina and Dhoni, who scored 29 off 18 balls, but the hosts held on comfortably.

- AP