WEST INDIES ACHIEVED a world record run chase when they beat South Africa by four wickets with four balls to spare in a Twenty20 international in Johannesburg.
Chris Gayle blasted 90 off 41 balls as the visitors somehow managed to chase South Africa’s total of 231 – their second highest total in the shortest format of the game.
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis hit a 46-ball century as the crowd at Newlands were forced to duck for cover as it rained boundaries.
The West Indies won with four balls to spare on a record-breaking day at the Wanderers with Darren Sammy finishing the match with a six to take his team to 236 for six.
Man of the match Gayle was again the star for the West Indies as he shared a second wicket stand of 152 off 75 balls with Marlon Samuels, who made 60.
“Cricket was the winner today,” said Sammy.
It was astonishing batting by both teams in ideal conditions on a field where the world record 50-overs run chase was achieved by South Africa when they scored 438 for nine against Australia in 2005/06.
The previous T20 record chase was 211 for four by India against Sri Lanka in Mohali in 2009/10.
Du Plessis said his South African record score of 119 off 56 balls was “bittersweet”.
He added: “I said at half-time that this game is very far from finished. Nothing is out of reach. Chris played so well up front, it is very hard to contain him.”
Du Plessis hit five sixes and 11 fours, while Miller’s three sixes and four fours off 26 balls included arguably the biggest hit seen at the ground, a mighty blow over long-on which cleared a four-tier grandstand and sailed into an adjacent golf course.
South African opening bowler Kyle Abbott conceded a world record 68 in his four overs. The previous highest was 64 by Jimmy Anderson of England and Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka.
Sure it’s nothing the Irish lands can’t handle when they face West Indies on 16 February in their World Cup opener in Nelson.
