Gordon Williams, Gleaner Writer
TORONTO, Canada:
West Indies shrugged off the disappointment of learning there will be no ICC Champions Trophy to contest next month, to beat Canada in the final of the tri-nation One-Day International tournament, at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club here yesterday.
Led by a blistering century from captain Chris Gayle, the visitors pounded the host country - winning by seven wickets with just under half their allotment of overs to spare.
The West Indies, after bowling out Canada for 179 in 46.5 overs, coasted to 181 for three off 27.3 overs.
The visitors, which planned to use this tri-nation series against Canada and Bermuda to prepare for the Champions Trophy, learned that the tournament, scheduled for Pakistan next month, had been called off for security reasons. It was a big letdown.
"There's been a lot of enthusiasm among the squad here," coach John Dyson said during the final. "ÉThey've been keen about playing for the West Indies. It's a shame that, overall, the plans for going from here to the Champions Trophy won't go ahead."
IMMEDIATE TASK
Still, the West Indies plugged into their immediate task.
Canada, sent to bat on an overcast morning but in front of a fair-sized crowd, got off to a shaky start. Mohammad Iqbal was run out for no score off the first ball of the day, bowled by Jerome Taylor, following a mix-up with fellow opener Rizwan Cheema.
Cheema and Ashish Bagai steadied the innings, adding 28 for the second wicket before Bagai was leg before wicket to Taylor for three. But Cheema pushed on, continuing his punishing form from the previous two games. He smashed the West Indies bowling just as he had on Friday.
Yesterday the Pakistani-born batsman clubbed 50 off 38 balls with seven fours and two sixes. He took a particular liking to fast bowler Darren Powell, whose first four overs cost 48 runs.
But Powell got revenge. Cheema went for another big drive to a ball not quite up to the bat and was caught by substitute fielder Kemar Roach at mid-off, for a well played 61 off 45 balls. The score was 99 for four in the 15th over.
Canada failed to build on Cheema's momentum. Wickets, including another two run outs, fell steadily as the scoring rate dried up. Canada's 150 came in the 37th over.
The introduction of left arm bowlers Nikita Miller and Brendan Nash was primarily responsible. Miller, the spinner, gave up nine runs off his last over, but finished with two wickets for 18 runs off 10. Nash, bowling medium pace, took one for 33 off 10. Taylor, who made the early breakthroughs, finished with three for 33 off 6.5 overs. Powell had one for 50 off six.
FLYING START
Set 180 to win off 50 overs, the West Indies got off to a flying start in bright sunshine. Eion Katchay's first delivery was a no-ball. Sewnarine Chattergoon slapped the resulting "free hit" over backward point for four. He took another boundary in the same area. Gayle followed with two boundaries off the next over from Harvir Baidwan, including another "free hit".
A huge straight six by Gayle off the first ball of the seventh over from Balaji Dorakanti, followed next ball by a big hit over long on for four, took the West Indies past 50 at lunch. Gayle continued impressively after the break, rushing to his half century off 39 balls, including nine fours and two sixes.
The pair added 88 before Chattergoon was leg before wicket in the 13th over for 23 off 41 balls. Carlton Baugh Jr joined Gayle, who was dropped at 60. The pair eased the West Indies past the 100 mark in the 17th over.
Baugh stepped up his pace, taking three fours off an over from Balajai Rao Dorakanti, including a well-timed loft over mid-off and an exquisite square drive.
Gayle was in no mood to ease up either. He sent the second ball of the 20th over soaring over long on for six off Cheema. Captain Sunil Dhaniram, who replaced Cheema, received even worse treatment a few overs later, Gayle blasting him for 19 runs, including three monstrous sixes, to bring up the 150 in the 22nd over.
Baugh offered steady support despite surviving a chance on 26. Gayle reached his century in the 25th over with a glorious extra cover drive. The Man-of-the-Match finished unbeaten on 110, his 16th ODI century - a total scored off 77 balls - including 14 fours and six sixes.
By the time Baugh was bowled for 29 off 41 balls, attempting a big hit and Leon Johnson left, bowled for one, the fight had long gone out of the Canadians in the field with the West Indies coasting home.
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
