November 19 Tuesday 2002
Centurion Gayle powers West Indies to victory

BARODA, India: Opener Chris Gayle smashed his third century of the series to propel West Indies to a five-wicket victory in the fifth one-day international against India on Monday. The 23-year-old Jamaican struck 101 as the visitors claimed the win with seven balls to spare, reaching 291 for five in 46.5 overs in reply to India's 290 for eight in the 48-overs per side game. Left-hander Gayle is in glorious form having had innings of 103, 72 and 140 in the series before Monday's match. Gayle first supported fellow left-hander Wavell Hinds, who set off in hot pursuit of the imposing target by scoring 80 from only 61 balls to earn the man of the match award.

BARODA: Chris Gayle of the West Indies raises his bat after completing his century during the fifth One-day International between India and West Indies on November 18, 2002. West Indies beat India by five wickets to take a 3-2 lead in the seven one-day international series.

The pair smashed 132 runs in only 16.2 overs as the bowlers once again toiled in vain on a flat pitch.

Hinds lashed 10 fours and five sixes as all but 10 of his runs came from boundaries before he eventually top-edged a sweep against off-spinner Virender Sehwag to slip. India then had Marlon Samuels out cheaply (one) shortly afterwards to make it 135 for two. But Gayle, dropped on 40, then shared in an 83-run third wicket partnership with Ramnaresh Sarwan (34) before completing his fourth one-day century.

He was then controversially ruled caught behind to Harbhajan by umpire Arani Jayaprakash though television replays suggested he had not touched the ball as he shaped for a cut. He hit 10 fours and three sixes in his 107-ball effort. West Indies still needed 52 from nine overs at that stage, but skipper Carl Hooper (21) and Ricardo Powell (30) 
completed the job without further loss to keep the record intact of the chasing side winning each game of the series.

Hinds ripped into the experienced Javagal Srinath and debutant Lakshmipathy Balaji as they struggled with their line and length in the opening overs and were smashed through the covers.

He and Gayle were particularly harsh on the 21-year-old Balaji, who conceded 35 runs in his first three over spell. Hinds then lofted Balaji and Srinath for two sixes before hitting three more down the ground from Harbhajan and Sehwag.

He looked set for his century after racing to his 50 from only 32 balls before being dismissed. Three runs later, Harbhajan forced Samuels to edge to slip to make it 135 for two. Gayle, who was dropped by Vangipurappu Laxman off Harbhajan, then saw off an testing spell of spin bowling that saw only 27 runs come from 10 overs before he 
smashed Ganguly for two fours and a six in one over and lofted Harbhajan for a straight six to regain the initiative.

Earlier, Laxman top-scored with 71 after swift half-centuries from openers Sehwag and Ganguly helped set up India's healthy total. Sehwag lashed 52 from 39 balls for his eighth one-day fifty and dominated his 88-run stand with Ganguly, who struck 53 from 55 balls for his 50th one-day half-century.

Both fell soon after reaching their half centuries as West Indies fought back through their part time bowlers and left-arm fast bowler Pedro Collins, who recovered from Sehwag's early assault to finish with three for 60.

Laxman faced 101 balls for his 71 as he and Rahul Dravid (33) but both struggled to find boundaries before Sanjay Bangar hit 27 from 20 balls in a late cameo to push the score towards 300.