Gayle force hits Bulls

Liam Daly at the Gabba, Sportal

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Western Australia have taken their third win of the Big Bash Twenty20 season in a canter, as the Queensland Bulls fell 32-runs short in a gutsy attempt to haul in the visitor’s massive 202-run total.

The Warriors’ win keeps them in the race for finals glory with one game remaining in the regular season, while the Bulls have fallen from contention with their fourth loss from five games.

Nathan Reardon (56), Michael Lumb (42) and Craig Philipson (32) were the serious contributors to Queensland’s 5-170 total, while Mick Lewis was the only multiple wicket-taker, claiming 2-39

But while the Warriors bowlers delivered what was required with the ball – despite four dropped catches in the outfield – there was denying that Gayle had single-handedly sealed the result with his cyclonic 92 runs from 40 balls at the start of the night.

The West Indian powerhouse recorded the fastest half-century of the season (20 balls), the biggest six (120 meters), and the highest first wicket partnership (145), which was shared with Liam Davis, who played the perfect supporting role.

Gayle was merciless on the Bulls attack, clearing his front foot and swinging with gusto to pillage the hosts for seven boundaries and eight sixes.

Bulls captain James Hopes promoted himself to open the batting along with English import Michael Lumb, and the combination showed potential, as the pair stayed only marginally below the asking rate in the opening three overs.

Lumb hit his second massive six in the fourth over, showing Chris Gayle wasn’t the only international left-handed opener capable of clearing the fence.

But as the Bulls began to build momentum, their slim chances took a massive blow, with Hopes horribly mistiming a slog down the ground and holding out to mid-on, departing the ground 1-34.

Lumb should have been the next man to go in the next, but he was dropped on the boundary by Michael Beer, who overran the opportunity, much to the disappointment of Michael Hogan.

Beer came on to bowl, and immediately had his disappointment compounded, as Lumb went down on one knee and slapped his second delivery deep into the stands over mid-wicket.

Craig Philipson brought up the Queensland 50 in the sixth over, and then Lumb had his second life, as Liam Davis dropped the simplest of chances from the bowling of Chris Gayle.

But Lumb’s luck was all spent up, and he was sent packing in the next over, having been trapped plumb in front horribly misjudging another attempted slog-sweep at Beer.

Nathan Reardon came to the crease and immediately found the middle with a big six over square-leg. But at the halfway point, Queensland had fallen away, requiring more than two runs a ball for victory.

Reardon and Philipson continued to swing hard without success, and with seven overs remaining the Bulls were facing mission impossible, requiring 15 an over.

Philipson clipped a four over midwicket to bring up the Queensland 100 and Reardon was able to pepper the outfield with some strong hitting, but the valiant duo never looked close to challenging the target.

Philipson was eventually run out for 32 in the 17th over, attempting an impossible run on the reliable arm of Davis, and when Chris Simpson was removed two balls later the result was sealed beyond all doubt.

Reardon fell for a well-made, but inadequate, 56 in the final over of the match, before Ben Cutting and Jason Floros saw Queensland through to the close of their 20 overs.