Chris Gayle sets CPL 2015 ablaze with 36-ball 90; scores his 50th T20 half-century
The love affair between Chris Gayle and T20 cricket seems to know no bounds. Just when you think Gayle has done everything, he comes up with an even better and jaw-dropping performance. And he has once again proved why he is the undisputed champion of T20 cricket with yet another extraordinary performance, this time in the Caribbean Premier League.
Leading the Jamaica Tallawahs against the St Lucia Zouks at Barbados on Sunday, Chris Gayle smoked a ruthless 90 off just 36 balls to lead his side to a most comprehensive 10-wicket victory. Choosing to field first after winning the toss, the Tallawahs restricted the Zouks to just 118 - a total that's hardly a challenge to any batting line-up.
Chasing a small total, Gayle set the tone early by taking 12 of the first over, including a four and a six off Shannon Gabriel. There was no looking back thereafter for Gayle and the Tallawahs as they motored along. They were 77 for no loss after 6 overs, with Gayle reaching his fifty off just 20 balls.
Among all the chaos and destruction caused by Gayle, his opening partner Chadwick Walton slowly and unnoticed, played the perfect foil for Gayle and finished with an unbeaten 25 off just as many balls.
With 98/0 after 9 overs, and needing 21 for victory, Gayle delivered the knockout punch by smashing 22 runs in the 10th over, including a six off the last ball of the 10th over to finish the match. His devastating unbeaten 90 from 36 balls included 6 fours and 9 sensational sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 250!
This was Gayle’s 50th half-century in T20 cricket, the most by any player. Gayle has been in tremendous form of late in the Natwest T20 blast and seems to take off from where he left. His scores in last 5 T20 innings read as: 92, 151*, 85*, 9, 90* (last)
Chris Gayle also holds the record for the fastest T20 hundred off 30 balls, which he got against the Pune Warriors in IPL 2013. He is undoubtedly one of the best entertainers in world cricket and who knows, the best of Gayle might be yet to come.