Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 25 (ANI): Shane Watson’s 48-ball century was overshadowed by an equally aggressive 44-ball undefeated 94 from Lendl Simmons that helped the West Indies Masters outclass the Australia Masters by 7 wickets in the second match of the inaugural International Masters League (IML) at the DY Patil Sports Stadium, as per a release from IML.
Continuing the trend of producing high-scoring matches in the IML, the sizeable crowd at the stadium were treated to Shane Watson’s signature strokes, adding a touch of nostalgia after West Indian batting great Brian Lara elected to field on winning the toss, earlier in the evening.
The 43-year-old Watson never looked as if he has left playing, as he treated the West Indies bowlers with disdain, to notch up his half-century off mere 27 balls, and consumed another 21 deliveries for his next fifty. In the process, Watson was also involved in a couple of big partnerships that set the tone for the massive target.
Watson, who went out to open the innings with Ben Dunk (15 off 11 balls), started with a 34-run partnership, before forging an 83-run partnership for the second wicket with Callum Ferguson (13 off 15). He was also involved in a 54-run stand for the third wicket with Daniel Christian (32 off 15), that set up the huge score for the Aussies.
Despite losing his partners at the other end, Watson ensured he remained in the middle and provided the impetus to the Australian innings. He took a special liking for left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, dispatching him over the fence for a couple of sixes and an identical number of fours to milk 21 runs from the 9th over of their innings.
Watson, who received a reprieve on 80 when Ashley Nurse dropped him, eventually perished to the same bowler, but by then he had already done his job with a 52-ball 107, laced with nine fours and as many sixes.
Nurse, meanwhile, emerged the most successful of the Windies bowlers, claiming figures of 3/16, while Jerome Taylor and Ravi Rampaul picked two wickets apiece.
In response, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Smith slammed brisk fifties to lead the West Indies Masters’ chase, with the iconic Brian Lara contributing with a 21-ball 33, and more importantly setting the tone with a 99-run third wicket stand with Simmons.
Earlier, opening the batting with the dangerous Chris Gayle, who perished for a 12-ball 11, Smith led the charge with a classy 29-ball 51, powered by 10 boundaries and a six, before Simmons took charge of the proceedings with an audacious half century,
Needing 38 off the last three overs, Simmons and wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton (23 not out off 11 balls) slammed three boundaries off Daniel Christian to reduce the margin by 17 runs before completing the formalities with a flurry of boundaries, and four balls to spare. (ANI)
