Man of the Match, Chris Gayle.

JAIPUR, India, (Reuters):

CHRIS GAYLE smashed 133 not out to power title holders West Indies into the Champions Trophy final with a six-wicket victory over South Africa yesterday.

The 27-year-old Jamaican stroked his third hundred of the tournament and amassed 154 runs for the first wicket with fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul (57) to snuff out South Africa's challenge.

Gayle's second successive hundred, his 15th overall, guided the West Indies to 262 for four in 44 overs after South Africa were restricted to 258 for eight. Herschelle Gibbs top-scored with 77 for them, after skipper Graeme Smith elected to bat.

The 2004 winners face world champions Australia in the final Sunday.

"The way Gayle and Chanderpaul started the innings was excellent and laid the foundation for our success," West Indies skipper Brian Lara said.

"We lost the toss, but it was a very good pitch. We knew they were going to get in excess of 200 so we had to restrict them upfront as much as possible."

Gayle blew away the bowling with Chanderpaul in a calculated early assault and then held firm at one end after the latter retired with a cramp.

He hammered 17 fours and three huge sixes in his 135-ball effort to help West Indies reach their third Champions Trophy final.

"I only told them don't get out in the first 10 overs," Lara joked. "They not only stayed there, but got a lot of runs as well."

The victory provides the West Indies with another opportunity against Australia after beating them by 10 runs in the opening group fixture.

"We've already played in Mumbai," Lara said. "We're going to go hard to win that."

See match report in sports section