Gayle's explosive hitting created a stunning finale

West Indies made cricket history by winning the first super-over eliminator after the scores were tied in the opening Twenty20 international.

New Zealand were limited to 155-7 from their 20 overs after choosing to bat.

Sulieman Benn's four and a single from the last two balls saw a tie and both teams chose three batsmen and a bowler.

Chris Gayle then hit three sixes and a four as 25 came off Daniel Vettori's over, and Benn removed Jacob Oram and Ross Taylor as the Kiwis made only 15.

The Windies looked certain to win the match in more conventional fashion after another superb man-of-the-match display from skipper Gayle.

He conceded just 16 runs from his three overs of wily off-spin, taking two wickets, including a stunning caught and bowled to dismiss James Franklin.

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Taylor was the only New Zealand batsman to last more than 17 balls, and he hit four sixes in his 63.

Gayle then gave the Windies an excellent start, taking 30 off young seamer Tim Southee's first two overs, including four fours and two mammoth sixes.

He passed fifty from just 34 balls with his fifth boundary, but wickets began to fall regularly at the other end.

The captain was out for 67 when he mis-timed a Jeetan Patel delivery to Taylor at long-off, and that left the tourists at 114-4, needing a further 42 from 35 balls.

But with Kieron Pollard and Carlton Baugh out in successive overs the requirement became 24 from 18 balls.

Taylor is bowled chasing the formidable 25 in the super-over

That had been whittled down to seven from Southee's final over but the game fluctuated again as two more wickets fell, but Benn's late flurry allowed Gayle another chance to blaze his team to a memorable win.

The charismatic skipper was delighted to prevail in the new format and said: "It's the first time I've experienced it but I thought it was a good one over game. It was good that we came out on top and we look forward to it again."

Of the overall day he added: "It's the second time I've played here in a Twenty20 game and the game's been a tie.

"I thought we bowled well. I thought Ross Taylor played a good innings and I've got to give credit for the way he batted. In the end we kept our cool and started to restrict them a bit in the last overs and I thought Benn bowled really well."

Counterpart Vettori admitted his team should have posted a bigger total and said: "Maybe around 180 would have been a great score but I was really pleased with the fight we showed with the ball.

"In the end we probably should have won the game but we messed up in the last couple of balls. Getting eased away for four can be a little bit of a heartbreaker but I was pleased with the fightback."

He was not overly enthused by the frantic six-ball shoot-out but added: "It's just sometimes the ground's not big enough for Chris Gayle and there were some great shots.

"We got close and if we'd hit one more six there at the end it would have been a real interesting last couple of balls. But that's what a last over lottery is about."

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