Birthday special: Chris Gayle – Five best T20 innings by the Universe Boss
Chris Gayle is one of the greatest batsmen in the history of T20 cricket. And, the numbers that the ‘Universe Boss’ has accumulated in the T20 format of the game are mind-boggling. Gayle has played 446 T20 matches and has amassed 14261 runs at an average of 36.94, and a whopping strike rate of 145.87.
Apart from playing for the West Indies, Gayle has featured in several T20 leagues around the world and has made the lives of bowlers miserable. With Gayle turning 42 today, let us take a look at the top 5 knocks from his willow in T20 cricket.
111* vs St. Lucia Kings (CPL 2014)
On 12th July 2014, Chris Gayle stood up for the Jamaica Tallawahs side and helped them make light work of a target of 162 that was set by the St. Lucia Kings. Opening the batting, the left-handed batting icon scored a 63-ball 111*, as the Tallawahs went past the target set by their opponents with 7 wickets and 6 balls to spare.
Gayle’s innings was embellished with 5 fours and 10 massive sixes. Needless to say, he walked away with the Player of the Match award for his match-winning century.
117 vs South Africa (T20 World Cup 2007)
Let us travel 14 years back, to 11th September 2007, when Chris Gayle dismantled the South African bowling attack in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup. West Indies batted first against the Proteas, and piled up a massive total of 205/6, with Chris Gayle leading the way with a 57-ball 117.
Gayle ripped apart the South African bowling attack consisting of names like Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander. However, South Africa chased down the target with 8 wickets to spare, courtesy a 55-ball 90* from Herschelle Gibbs.
128* vs Delhi Capitals (IPL 2012)
On 17th May 2012, the Delhi Capitals side was at the receiving end of a blitzkrieg from the willow of Chris Gayle. The left-handed batting gladiator plundered a whirlwind 128* off just 62 deliveries at the top of the order, and powered the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) side to a total of 215/1 in their allotted 20 overs.
The Delhi Capitals gave a tough fight with the willow in reply, but in the end, they could only muster a total of 194/9 in their 20 overs and went down to their opponents by 21 runs.
100* vs England (T20 World Cup 2016)
On 16th March 2016, Chris Gayle scored a 48-ball 100* to enable the West Indies to chase down a challenging target of 183 set by England in the T20 World Cup. Gayle’s innings was studded with 5 fours and 11 sixes, and he made the England fielders chase leather. His timely century helped the ‘Men in Maroon’ hunt down the target with 6 wickets and 11 balls to spare.
175* vs Pune Warriors (IPL 2013)
This knock will go down as arguably one of the greatest knocks ever played in the history of T20 cricket. Chris Gayle hammered and pummeled his way to a murderous 175* off just 66 balls, and powered the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) side to a gargantuan total of 263/5 against the Pune Warriors outfit. Gayle’s innings consisted of 13 fours and a staggering 17 sixes.
In reply, the Pune Warriors produced a shambolic performance with the willow and were bowled out for a paltry total of just 133, as Bangalore thrashed their opponents by 130 runs.
