Tuesday, December 23, 2008

NEWZELAND VS WESTINDIES 2st TEST 2008:-GAYLE HELPS WINDIES TO A DRAW


A masterful 197 by Chris Gayle saved the West Indies and ensured a drawn series as New Zealand gave up their run chase on Tuesday with nine overs remaining in the second cricket Test.


Facing a target of 312 in 60 overs, New Zealand passed the 200 mark with 16 overs left but then dropped off the pace when Brendon McCullum, their last hard-hitting batsman, fell to a questionable dismissal.


When captains Gayle and Daniel Vettori agreed to call the players in, New Zealand were 220 for five with Jesse Ryder not out on 59.


The result meant both Tests were drawn and ensured the West Indies remained at seven in the world rankings, one place ahead of New Zealand.


But the second Test could have gone down to the wire had McCullum not been given out in a series which served as a trial for players to appeal to the third umpire in an attempt to overturn wrongful dismissals.


The batsman was given out caught behind for 19 and McCullum referred the decision to the third umpire, Mark Benson, who found no reason to overturn the original finding.


However under the rules Benson could refer only to the normal camera coverage and could not access the sensitive "snicko" equipment, which did not detect any connection between bat and ball.


In a contest which produced a string of personal bests, including a maiden century for Tim McIntosh and impressive bowling by Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel and Fidel Edwards, it was the man-of-the-match performance by Gayle that defined the outcome.

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