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HARARE: A brilliant performance by Chris Gayle guided the West Indies to a series-clinching eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the fifth one-day international yesterday.

Off-spinner Gayle claimed four for 24 and then scored 112 not out, his second century of the series, to play the major role in a win that earned the West Indies a 3-2 victory in the five-match series. After Zimbabwe has slumped to 196 all out Gayle launched a sustained assault on the Zimbabwe bowlers, playing a range of strokes with power and timing. He faced 75 balls and hit 17 fours and two sixes. Zimbabwe began their innings solidly, but floundered after Gayle was brought into the attack in the 23rd over. Vusi Sibanda was run out for eight by Ricardo Powell in the 10th over and Barney Rogers clipped seven fours in his 34 before being caught behind by wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs off the bowling of fast bowler Merv Dillon in the 13th over. Mark Vermeulen and Craig Wishart consolidated well in their third-wicket stand of 50. But Zimbabwe's problems began when Gayle came on in the 23rd over, and had Wishart caught behind for 16 by Jacobs with his fifth delivery.

Zimbabwe's previously steady flow of runs, which took them to 106 for two after 22 overs, dried up as Gayle kept the batsmen pinned down with nothing more threatening than variations of flight and pace. Several Zimbabweans succumbed to soft dismissals, including debutant Alester Maregwede and Vermeulen, who fell to identical catches at short mid-wicket by Powell off Gayle for nought and 36 respectively. Tatenda Taibu scored 14 before slapping a ball from off-spinner Powell to Ramnaresh Sarwan at mid-wicket, and it was 157 for seven in the 41st over when Sean Ervine went for 10 to a low catch in the covers by Powell off Gayle.

Heath Streak batted judiciously for his 30, but in the 44th over he lifted a drive to Brian Lara at mid-off to earn fast bowler Fidel Edwards his first wicket. Two overs later Powell had Andy Blignaut stumped for 10 by Jacobs, and the innings ended three overs after that when Edwards trapped Ray Price in front for three. Wavell Hinds and Gayle added 43 for the West Indies' first wicket before Hinds, facing fast bowler Andy Blignaut, scooped a drive to Price at mid-on. But Gayle and Lara put the result beyond doubt with a fluent second-wicket stand of 137 off 95 balls. It was ended in the 24th over when medium pacer Ervine bowled Lara for 41. Powell, who was 12 not out, helped Gayle score the remaining runs. The series had stood at 2-2 after West Indies levelled matters with a 72-run victory on Saturday.