HOVE, England (CMC) - Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle smashed blistering half-centuries and guided West Indies to a six-wicket win over Sussex in a rain-shortened day/night limited-overmatch at Hove yesterday. After rain twice interrupted the West Indies innings, their original target of 293 was revised to 181 off 23 overs, and the West Indies finished on 184 for four off 21 overs after Chanderpaul stroked 71 not out and Chris Gayle 57. But Sussex had appeared well poised for a win after they had posted a formidable 292 for six and reduced the West Indies to 12 for two. Zimbabwe's Test batsman Murray Goodwin led the way for Sussex with 90 off 94 balls, including 11 fours and one six.
Wicket-keeper/batsman Timothy Ambrose also scored heavily with an unbeaten 79 that contained eight fours and one six.
The 19-year-old pacer Ravi Rampaul was the West Indies' top wicket-taker, capturing two for 59 off his 10 overs.
Medium pacer Dwayne Smith (1-18), leg-spinner Ramnaresh Sarwan (1-47), medium pacer Darren Sammy (1-48), and pacer Tino Best (1-62) off 10 overs, were the other wicket-takers.
Rain delayed the start of the West Indies reply and when they began, they quickly lost Devon Smith (0) leg before wicket to Robin Martin-Jenkins and Ramnaresh Sarwan (1) to James Kirtley.
But after a lengthy stoppage for rain, Gayle launched a savage attack on the Sussex bowlers and rushed to a half century.
His 57 came off only 44 balls, with eight fours and two sixes.
Chanderpaul was just as punishing, collecting his 71 runs off only 58 balls, laced with seven fours and three sixes.
Chanderpaul was joined by his captain Brian Lara after Gayle's dismissal - LBW to Martin-Jenkins and the two posted an unfinished 68-run fifth-wicket stand that gave the West Indies victory with two overs to spare, rebounding from their loss to Ireland on Thursday. Kirtley (2-4) was the best bowler for Sussex.
West Indies made four changes to their team that lost by six wickets to Ireland two days earlier - naming Sarwan, Dwayne Smith, Carlton Baugh and Best, to replace Dwayne Bravo, Ian Bradshaw, Ridley Jacobs and Jermaine Lawson.