PERTH, Australia, CMC – Highly prized West Indies opener Chris Gayle sparked only briefly as his Western Australia crashed to a 63-run loss to Tasmania in the opening game of the Twenty20 Big Bash yesterday.
The big-hitting Jamaican left-hander cracked 22 from 19 balls with three fours but Western Australia’s run chase collapsed spectacularly at the WACA Ground.
Tasmania, winning the toss and batting, piled up 189 for six from their allotted 20 overs, with Tim Paine hammering the top score of 71 from 57 balls with two fours and four sixes.
Travis Birt slammed 43 from 22 balls, sharing an 86-run third wicket stand with Paine that was bedrock of the innings.
Gayle, who opened the bowling with his off-spin, snared one for 28 while medium pacer Mick Lewis was the leading bowler with three for 46.
In their turn at the crease, Western Australia lost Shaun Marsh without scoring to the third ball of the innings but Gayle, playing in his usual languid style, threatened for the hosts.
All three boundaries were rasping cuts square on the off-side and he seemed to be moving into stride when he attempted another four through the same area and was caught by Birt off Dutch fast bowler Ryan ten Doeschate.
Adam Voges struck 38 from 24 balls with two fours and as many sixes but Pakistani fast bowler Naved-ul-Hasan (3-19) and Ryan ten Doeschate (2-3), Xavier Doherty (2-22) and Jason Krejza (2-24) ensured there was no recovery.
