If you weren’t, you missed one of the most brutal and belligerentdisplays by two young Jamaican batsmen amidst unrestrainedcelebrations from 14 000 of their countrymen
Haydn Gill03-Apr-2000Kingston – Alison Hinds’ voice kept emanating from the speakers in theelectrifying Mound Stand with the phrase: ‘Are you there.’If you weren’t, you missed one of the most brutal and belligerentdisplays by two young Jamaican batsmen amidst unrestrainedcelebrations from 14 000 of their countrymen.Sabina Park once more took on a Carnival-like atmosphere, especiallyfor one exhilarating hour when Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle destroyedZimbabwe’s bowling with the type of fury of the hurricane thatdevastated Jamaica 12 years ago.The 23-year-old Hinds, taking advantage of a promotion in the order,was the initial aggressor and was unbeaten on 116 off 125 balls whenthe West Indies relieved Zimbabwe from their misery with the total 280for three.Gayle, age 20, provided even more fireworks in a whirlwind unbeaten 58off 45 balls that prompted the similar type of whistle-blowing,flag-waving and Mexican waving that had engulfed the ground the daybefore.By then, the match was virtually finished as a contest and the placenever generated the same excitement and intensity in a Zimbabweinnings that never seriously mounted a challenge.The tourists, pegged back by Curtly Ambrose’s mean ten overs that cost19 runs and Reon King’s three successive maidens at the start andthree wickets later, finished their 50 overs on 239 for eight, 41behind the West Indies’ highest total in eight One-Day Internationalsagainst their African opponents.The second successive defeat for Zimbabwe has left them in a must-winsituation for their next match in the tri-nation series againstPakistan at the Antigua Recreation Ground on Wednesday.The pattern for the West Indies’ innings was almost identical to theprevious day, but Hinds and Gayle corrected what went wrong onSaturday during the final ten overs.In the first match, the West Indies reached 181 for two after 40overs, but lost seven wickets for 56 in the last ten. Yesterday, therewere no such problems in the happy hour when Hinds and Gayle clobberedexactly 100 runs from the final 60 balls.Captain Jimmy Adams’ run out for 41 off 54 balls from another directthrow by Stuart Carlisle would have brought back memories of the firstmatch when the West Indies were plagued by four run-outs.But, those would have been out of everyone’s minds when Hinds andGayle plundered the bowling and put so much pressure on Zimbabwe thattheir fielding was not of the impeccable standard they had set on thistour.On another day, Hinds might have been caught by Grant Flower runningback from mid-wicket when he was 82 or by Gary Brent coming off thedeep backward square boundary when he was 96.The latter was a miss that allowed Hinds to reach his hundred and heimmediately punched the air with more force and aggression that is noteven common among heavy-weight boxing champions.He had justifiable reason to do so.Sent in at his accustomed No. 3 position in place of Gayle, heresponded with an innings that became more of a joy to watch as itprogressed.His runs were made in all directions, but he was especially moreenter-taining when he was driving through the covers, down the groundor on the pull.By the time Gayle joined him in the 36th over, Hinds had just passedhis 50 and the two left-handers scored at about the same ratethroughout their partnership of 125 off 91 balls.It included two big sixes, the first lifted by Hinds off GrantFlower’s left-arm spin and the second hit high and hard by Gayle overlong-off off Henry Olonga.Gayle needed a couple balls to adjust to the pitch and the bowling,but once he did so, no one could contain him and his 58 came off only45 balls and included five fours.Zimbabwe might have been encouraged when they removed openers SherwinCampbell and Philo Wallace within seven runs after the Barbadians hadposted a half-century stand in quick time.The optimism was prompted by Brent’s introduction. He came on to bowlhis medium-pace after 11 overs and bowled Campbell with a ball thathad neither the line nor length to necessitate a steer to third-man.Wallace still appeared to be struggling for form and after a few meatyblows, he was bowled by Brent playing across the line in a manner thatwas similar to his dismissal of the previous day.Zimbabwe lost their openers after the early pressure against Ambroseand King before Carlisle and Murray Goodwin again featured in theirsecond successive significant partnership.Carlisle and Goodwin put on 47 for the third wicket, but by the timeGoodwin was bowled by Franklyn Rose, the asking rate had climbed tomore than seven runs an over.Captain Andy Flower arrived to effortlessly compile 52 off 54 balls,but it was too little much too late.King was the one who broke the middle order with the scalps ofCarlisle, who hit a catch down the throat of mid-off and Dirk Viljoen,a victim to an edged catch at first slip in the same over.Even though Rose and Mervyn Dillon were expensive, the West Indies hadno cause for concern, thanks to Hinds and Gayle.Facts of the match:Details on the second One-Day International yesterday:West Indies’ 280 for three off 50 overs was their highest total ineight One-Day Internationals against Zimbabwe Wavell Hinds’ 116 not out was his first 100 in 14 One-DayInternationals. His previous best score was 65 against Pakistan in the1999 Sharjah Cup. It was the 81st century by a West Indian in 395One-Day Internationals. Chris Gayle’s 58 not out was his highest score in nine One-DayInternationals. His previous best was 22. Andy Flower became the first Zimbabwe player to reach 4 000 runs inOne-Day Internationals when he made 30 of his eventual 54. It was his35th half-century in addition to three centuries in 136 matches. Heath Streak completed 1 000 runs in One-Day Internationals when hemade two of his eventual seven in his 91st match.