Gayle blows hot

Chris Gayle © Getty Images

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Chris Gayle put his recent controversies behind him as West Indies cruised to a 56-run victory over a PCA Masters XI in a Twenty20 warm-up match at Arundel Castle.

The Windies skipper was reprimanded by the West Indies Cricket Board earlier in the day for refusing to apologise after criticising the process by which they selected him as one-day captain.

But the 27-year-old showed no ill-effects in hitting 73, which, along with an unbeaten 77 from Devon Smith, handed the tourists the intitiative against a side including former England pair Robin Smith and Nick Knight.

Having set their opponents a target of 199, West Indies made an immediate impression with the ball, Ravi Rampaul accounting for Rikki Clarke first ball before Marlon Samuels did further damage with 4-19.

Nathan Astle (18), Azhar Mahmood (41), Knight (nine) and Chris Lewis (15) all fell to the 22-year-old as West Indies made light work of their opponents.

Gayle managed a wicket of his own, removing James Foster before Smith bowled Martin Bicknell to complete a comfortable victory.