AUCKLAND (CMC):

Despite his astonishing display with the bat, Chris Gayle has hailed left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn's crucial role in West Indies' exciting win over New Zealand in the opening Twenty20 Inter-national, yesterday.

Gayle took the Man-of-the-Match award after taking two wickets with his off-spin to limit the Black Caps to 155 for seven and then slamming 67 from 41 balls to spur West Indies to 155 for eight.

And though he clattered 25 in the 'eliminator over', he praised Benn's heroics which saw him take two wickets and limit New Zealand to 15 runs when they faced their over.

"Benn is a good bowler. He is a very confident player and he wanted it (the over)," Gayle said afterwards. "He wanted to bowl and I gave it to him. He delivered for us tonight under pressure and he deserves the credit."

Underlined his value

The six-foot, seven-inch Benn had earlier underlined his value, sending down four miserly overs for 20 runs and then returning to hit a boundary off the penultimate ball of the innings and sneak a single off the last ball to tie the match.

Gayle said his side was determined to win the match at Eden Park, especially since they had lost in a 'bowl off' the last time the two teams met in a T20I at the ground two years ago when the match also ended in a tie.

"It felt really great out there. I enjoyed my innings and in the end it was good that we came away on the winning side. We kept our cool and came away with a vital victory," said the Windies captain. "The game came down to a tie and the one over worked in our favour. What we wanted was a victory and we got it. I would have to say, however, we have some work to do.

"This is the second time we played to a tie in a Twenty20 at this ground. Last time we played here New Zealand won in the bowl-off, so this time around we got home in the one over. It was good to see everybody going at it!"