Gayle takes the pressure off says http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kieran-Omar-Akeem-Powell-c71441 – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CH-Gayle-c1221 remains a blessing as the swashbuckling player takes the added burden of scoring runs through his aggressive stroke play.
The home side ended the day 2 against Black Caps on a dominating position, where they posted 145 for no loss in reply to the Kiwi’s first innings total of 351, at Antigua. Gayle, who was making a comeback in whites for the national team, scored a commanding unbeaten 85 in his usual T20 style where as Powell took a more cautious approach and ended the day on 58 not out.
Talking about the contrasting nature of their batting styles, Powell was quick to praise his opening partner by adding that his presence on the other end helped him to bat in a steady manner.
"It's a big relief because it takes all the pressure off your scoring," Powell said of having Gayle at the top of the order.
"The shots you see him play, you just have to put yourself in your own bubble and get away from that or you try and do things and get out. It wasn't difficult, I just got myself in my own little bubble and just tried to steady. It didn't matter what I saw at the other end from Chris. I just tried to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adrian-Roger-Kirshaw-Pierson-c42135 within my limitations."
The Kiwi bowlers were flattened out by the Caribbean batsmen in the initial phase where Gayle hit four boundaries off the very first over. He kept his onslaught before slowing down in the closing stages of the match in a bid to conserve energy for some more assault on Day 3. The 22-year-old, on the other hand, played a watchful innings, going at a strike of 35.36, nearly half of his partner.
Earlier, the Windies bowlers put in a resolute effort to gun down the tourists on 351 after the Black Caps resumed from a pretty healthy 232 for 4. While the seamers did most of the damage, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sunil-Philip-Narine-c91869, who took three on the opening day, also bagged two to complete a maiden five-for.
With the likes of Shivnarine Chanderpual and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Marlon-Nathaniel-Samuels-c74804 still to come, the Black Caps have an uphill task ahead of them.
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