Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
44 | 7 Runs | WI: 262/4 | RR: 5.95

  • Chris Gayle133 (135b)
  • Marlon Samuels5 (8b)
  • Robin Peterson7-0-36-1
  • Graeme Smith10-0-43-1

Chris Gayle's second hundred in consecutive matches, his third of the tournament, and his 15th in total. It was a magisterial performance, and the South Africans had absolutely no answer to his belligerent approach.

The fireworks are exploding all around the ground, as West Indies, the defending champions, return to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy. They've had to do it the hard way, with pre-qualification, but now they face Australia, first-time finalists, in the final at Mumbai on Sunday.

Gayle, we presume, will be the runaway Man-of-the-Match, while South Africa return home with that tag of nearly-men once again proving too hard to shake off. They don't like semi-finals, do they?

Well, it's been emotional. This is Andrew Miller signing off, on behalf of my colleagues, Martin Williamson and Will Luke. Join us again on Sunday at 0900GMT, for the final between West Indies and Australia.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. It's shameless plug time. Why not click here and download our new desktop alerts system, which will keep you posted on all the action as it happens, and you can also add RSS headlines from your other favourite news sources and blogs

And, if you fancy a holiday in Kenya and a share of £10,000 prize money, join our Ashes fantasy league. Just pick your dream team for the Ashes and off you go.

And we've also got a book out! The Cricinfo Guide to International Cricket is in the shops now, and well worth adding to your Christmas stocking list.

Right, that really is enough now. Bye!

43.6
4
Peterson to Gayle, FOUR, brilliant. Full stride, and clobbered down the ground for the winning boundary
43.5
0
Peterson to Gayle, no run, driven, but straight to the man at mid-off
43.5
1w
Peterson to Gayle, 1 wide, oops, that's a bonus

Two needed from 38 ... I wonder ...

43.4
1
Peterson to Samuels, 1 run, tip-and-run cricket, and a scampered single ends with a direct hit from the covers, but the batsmen are home
43.3
0
Peterson to Samuels, no run, stretching forward and smothers the spin, not that there's a whole lot of it
43.2
1
Peterson to Gayle, 1 run, shorter, and bludgeoned down the ground. But the long-on sweeper tidies up
43.1
0
Peterson to Gayle, no run, flicked off the pads, but straight to the fielder

END OF OVER:
43 | 11 Runs | WI: 255/4 (4 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 5.93, RRR: 0.57)

  • Marlon Samuels4 (6b)
  • Chris Gayle128 (131b)
  • Graeme Smith10-0-43-1
  • Robin Peterson6-0-29-1

This has been a rout, pure and simple, and not even West Indies' carelessness in these final overs can disguise that

42.6
2lb
Smith to Samuels, 2 leg byes, and that's a useful addition. Gayle keeps the strike, with just four runs needed
42.5
4
Smith to Samuels, FOUR, that will help the cause! Opens the blade and punches behind square for a welcome boundary to get off the mark
42.4
0
Smith to Samuels, no run, shuffles across his stumps, and pushed back down the track
42.3
0
Smith to Samuels, no run, sensible defence
42.2
1
Smith to Gayle, 1 run, tickled away to fine leg
42.1
4
Smith to Gayle, FOUR, poor ball, and Gayle swings that one round the corner and away to the midwicket boundary. He's still in control, and therefore so are the Windies

END OF OVER:
42 | 1 Run 1 Wkt | WI: 244/4 (15 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 5.80, RRR: 1.87)

  • Marlon Samuels0 (2b)
  • Chris Gayle123 (129b)
  • Robin Peterson6-0-29-1
  • Graeme Smith9-0-34-1
41.6
0
Peterson to Samuels, no run, the end of another very useful over. Spin, as Viv Richards once said (apparently) is a useful setting on a washing-machine. It's also useful for putting the heebie-jeebies through a West Indian batting line-up
41.5
0
Peterson to Samuels, no run, good length, met with a deliberate dead bat

Well, well ... it's still too late for South Africa, surely ...? But Australia will be watching this collapse with interest ...

41.4
W
Peterson to Morton, OUT, good grief, that is village! Gayle is cruising at the other end, but Morton wanted to finish the job himself, but instead his big smear ends up in the hands of short midwicket. Brainless batting, I'm afraid to say, and it was somewhat telegraphed

RS Morton c de Villiers b Peterson 0 (2m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

41.3
0
Peterson to Morton, no run, tight bowling so far this over ... I sense there may be some flutters to come
41.2
0
Peterson to Morton, no run, nice flight and loop, pushed back down the track
41.1
1
Peterson to Gayle, 1 run, turned phlegmatically into the gap on the leg-side. Gayle wants to finish this himself

END OF OVER:
41 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | WI: 243/3 (16 runs required from 54 balls, RR: 5.92, RRR: 1.77)

  • Runako Morton0 (2b)
  • Chris Gayle122 (128b)
  • Graeme Smith9-0-34-1
  • Robin Peterson5-0-28-0

Peterson to continue

40.6
0
Smith to Morton, no run, turned to midwicket, to end a very useful over. Too little too late? Probably ...
40.5
0
Smith to Morton, no run, pushed into the covers

Surely West Indies aren't going to make a meal of this, like they did against India? We shall watch and see ...

Runako Morton is the new batsman

40.4
W
Smith to Lara, OUT, gosh, now that's a surprise! Smith has got the big man! Another loopy delivery, and a loose drive is embedded in the bowler's midriff

BC Lara c & b Smith 9 (11m 10b 1x4 0x6) SR: 90

40.3
0
Smith to Lara, no run, respectfully forward
  • Joy in Jaipur

    Even with the statutory stutter, West Indies' win over South Africa was as overwhelming as could be anticipated against one of the most formidable and consistent teams in world cricket

  • Lara looking forward to Australia challenge

    Brian Lara is glad his side will have the chance to play the reigning World Cup winners in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday

  • Lara commends team effort

    Though Chris Gayle's fabulous hundred was the turning point for the West Indies, their captain Brian Lara insisted the win over South Africa was not about just one man

  • West Indies v SA, Champions Trophy, 2nd semi-final

    Match home for the second semi-final of the Champions Trophy between West Indies and South Africa at Jaipur

  • Heavyweight Beast

    Instead of a seaming pitch and timid batsmen intimidated by theshort stuff, South Africa found themselves up against a man who brooks no answers when in the mood

West Indies 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st154S ChanderpaulCH Gayle
1st42RR SarwanCH Gayle
2nd30CH GayleDJ Bravo
3rd17BC LaraCH Gayle
4th1CH GayleRS Morton
5th18CH GayleMN Samuels

ICC Champions Trophy (ICC KnockOut)

Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
AUS32140.529
WI32140.009
IND31220.482
ENG3122-1.044
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
SA32140.767
NZ32140.572
SL3122-0.195
PAK3122-1.107
Qualifying Group
TeamMWLPTNRR
SL33062.672
WI32140.404
BAN31220.019
ZIM3030-2.927