Stats: Chris Gayle's 46-ball 80* against New Zealand and the records broken
Chris Gayle, playing his 101st Test match, against New Zealand, showed signs of returning back to prime touch after a dismal show in the Indian Premier League, when he took his team to a series-levelling win by scoring a sensational 46-ball 80*. The whirlwind knock made sure that the home team, chasing 93 in the final day, completed the match before the rain, which was threatening to play spoilsport, could bring a premature end to the proceedings.
The West Indian big hitter, while helping his team achieve the target in just 13.2 overs, also broke quite a number of records in the process. Here is a compilation the records that were created:
1. His 50, which came off just 28 balls, is the 6th-fastest 50 in Test history.
2. With 96 sixes to his name, he has moved within closing distance to break the all-time record for the most number of sixes in Test cricket. Former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist is currently at the top with 100 sixes.
3. Gayle became the second batsman ever to hit 150 or more sixes in international cricket at home. The first was the opposition captain for the match, Brendon McCullum, who is on 169 sixes.
?4. He became the third Windies player to reach the 7000-run mark in international cricket at home, after Brian Lara (9441) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (8859). Interestingly, all of them happen to be left-handers.
5. Gayle has helped his team register the first 10-wicket victory against a top 8 ranked team since 2002, which was against India. Overall, this is the Caribbeans 24th 10-wicket victory and 5th against the Kiwis.
6. This is only the second occasion that Gayle has hit the winning runs for his national team in Tests. The first was against Zimbabwe in 2013.
7. His 6 sixes in the knock is the joint third-best by any player with an innings of less than 100. Kiwi pacer Tim Southee leads the list with 9 sixes to his name, which he did in an innings against England in 2008.
8. His strike-rate of 173.91 is his personal best in Tests.
9. For a minimum of 80 runs, his strike-rate is the third-best ever in Test cricket history. Sir Viv Richards and Chris Cairns occupy the first two spots with strike-rates of 189.65 and 174.46, both against England, in 1986 and 2004 respectively.
10. The six tally of West Indies read 16, second most by the Caribbeans in a Test match. At first is the 18 sixes scored against England back in 1986.