By Gurmukh Singh, IANS,
Toronto : Xavier Marshall of the West Indies has surpassed Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasurya’s record of 11 sixes in a one-day match by plundering 12 sixes against Canada here.
Playing his 17th ODI, he scored 157 off just 118 balls Friday to help the West Indies defeat Canada by 49 runs in the first Scotiabank Canada Cup ODI triangular series being played at King City here.
He was declared man of the match.
Chasing a target stiff target of 303 set by the West Indies, the hosts put up a gallant fight before being bowled out for 254.
Rizwan Cheema shone for them with both ball and bat. He first claimed three wickets and then top-scored with 89 just off 69 balls, including six sixes.
With Bermuda already out of the first ODI triangular series on Canadian soil, the hosts will again meet the West Indies in the final Sunday.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, West Indies captain Chris Gayle and Sewnarine Chattergoon gave their team a steady start, with Canadian bowlers Eion Katchay and Harvir Baidwan keeping them on a tight leash.
But the hosts struck in the 11th over when Katchay got Gayle caught when the West Indies’ captain attempted a square cut.
Chattergoon soon followed his captain, falling to Rizman Cheema, leaving the West Indies at 50 for 2.
But Xavier Marshall and L. Johnson put the Canadian attack to sword, plundering runs at a brisk pace. After adding 128 runs for the third wicket, Johnson was caught behind off Cheema in the 37th over.
The next batsman, Findlay, fell in the very next over even as Marshall continued plundering runs. He remained unbeaten on 157, including 12 sixes.
In reply, the openers gave the hosts a very good start, with Rizwan Cheema scoring briskly. But soon his partner M. Iqbal fell for four.
Cheema and A. Bagai took the attack to the West Indies, with the opener hitting massive six sixes.
At 89, Cheema was finally caught off Nash.
After his departure, the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals and folded up at 254 in 47.2 overs.