IML 2025, Match 5 Review: Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle lead the West Indies Masters to their second victory

When Chris Gayle and Dwayne Smith rekindled the Caribbean flair and led the West Indies to a scorching 77-run opening stand in just over 7 overs after being put in to bat, the stadium was taken back in time.

The fifth match of the inaugural International Masters League 2025 brought together the West Indies and England icons under floodlights, bringing a sense of nostalgia to the DY Patil Stadium. The West Indies Masters defeated the England Masters by eight runs, their second victory of the tournament, thanks to an all-around performance.

Dwayne Smith matched his left-handed partner shot for shot to bash 35 off 25, while Chris Gayle, who replaced Brian Lara as captain of the West Indies Masters, produced a classic power-hitting masterpiece, scorching 39 off 19 deliveries. Smith was the more restrained of the two, striking four boundaries and a few sixes, but Chris Gayle dealt primarily in boundaries, hitting the bowlers for four enormous sixes and three boundaries.

However, the English spinners pulled the brakes just as the Windies appeared to be unstoppable, quickly taking the top five wickets. The attack was initiated by leg-spinner Chris Schofield, who ended the thriving opening combination in three deliveries to bring the game back to parity.

The West Indian team, which had previously sped to 90 for 2 in 10 overs, suddenly stumbled to 113 for 5 in 15 overs after being hit three times in quick succession by left-arm spinner Monty Panesar. However, the momentum was altered by the appearance of Deonarine and Ashley Nurse, who returned the attack to the opposition with a variety of appealing strokes. More significantly, they gave the innings its final flourish with a 44-run partnership for the sixth wicket. The innings reached 179/6 thanks to Deonarine’s undefeated 23-ball 35, which was smashed by three clear sixes, and Nurse’s 13-ball 29, which ended with two boundaries and as many sixes.

After captain Eoin Morgan’s 13-ball 22, driven by a couple of fours and a six, and opener Phil Mustard’s brilliant 19-ball 35, laced with seven fours and a six, England never found the momentum going their way. The West Indian bowlers put up a disciplined effort to not only stop the flow of runs but also continued to take wickets at regular intervals, which left the English batting at 76/5 inside the first ten.