West Indies' captain Chris Gayle smashed the Australian bowlers to all parts of the Oval on Saturday to lead his team to a seven-wicket victory in their opening Twenty20 World Cup Group C match. Gayle struck 88 with six sixes and six fours from 50 deliveries as West Indies overhauled Australia's 169 for seven with 4.1 overs to spare. Andre Fletcher proved an excellent foil, scoring 53 from 32 balls in an opening partnership of 133. Gayle launched an audacious attack on Brett Lee, bowling in excess of 145 kms an hour, in the fifth over of the innings. He clubbed the Australian fast bowler over long-on into the street and struck another huge six over mid-wicket. Twenty-seven came from the over. Australia captain Ricky Ponting turned to David Hussey's gentle slow-medium and Gayle responded by lofting two more sixes into the crowd. Jerome Taylor had set West Indies on the victory path by dismissing Shane Watson and Australia captain Ricky Ponting for ducks in the opening over of the match. Australia, reduced to 15 for three after 3.3 overs, did well to reach its eventual total. Diminutive left-handed opener David Warner anchored the innings with 63 from 53 balls and Brad Haddin (24), David Hussey (27) and Michael Hussey (28) made useful contributions down the order. Brief scores: Australia 169-7 (Warner 63, Haddin 24, D.Hussey 27, M.Hussey 28 n.o., Taylor 2-33, Edwards 2-34, Bravo 2-31). West Indies 172-3 in 15.5 overs (Gayle 88, Fletcher 53, Lee 1-56, Johnson 2-36). Kiwis begin in style Jesse Ryder hit 31 as New Zealand began its campaign by easing to a seven-wicket win over Scotland on Saturday in a match reduced to seven overs a side due to rain. Ryder put on a 51-run partnership with stand-in captain Brendon McCullum in 19 balls to quickly chip into Scotland's score of 89-4 and exploit poor bowling. After losing two wickets, the Black Caps entered the sixth – and penultimate - over requiring 22. Two sixes from Ross Taylor and another from Scott Styris off medium-pacer Jan Stander completed the win with six balls to spare. Ryan Watson got the Scots off to a flying start by hitting a spectacular 27 from only 10 deliveries once the match finally started 2 hours, 20 minutes late after heavy rain at the Oval disrupted the start of the second day of the tournament. Scotland 89-7 (R. Watson 27, N. Poonia 27, K. Coetzer 33, Butler 3-19). New Zealand 90-3 (J. Ryder 31, R. Taylor not out 21). – AgenciesToday's Matches 1530 Scotland vs. South Africa 1930 England vs. Pakistan __
