Chris Gayle first to hit 100 sixes in T20IS
NEW DELHI: Chris Gayle has remained the top showman in Twenty20 cricket for years. The Jamaican power-hitter claimed another record on Saturday, becoming the first batsman to hit a century of sixes in T20I.
Gayle prefers to deal in boundaries and sixes, be it for West Indies or franchises he plays for.
The 37-year-old reached the milestone in his 52nd match, and 49th innings. He struck left-arm seamer David Willey for the first of his three sixes while scoring 40 in the one-off T20I win over England in Durham.west Indies beat England by 21 runs.
Gayle owns almost all records in T20 cricket --- most centuries (18) half-centuries (65), sixes (772) and fours (804), from 309 matches. He also holds the record for scoring the fastest century in T20 cricket, off just 30 deliveries.
That record came for RCB, against Pune Warriors in 2013. That ton included 11 sixes and eight fours, Gayle finishing on 175 not out with 17 sixes.
TEST RETURN
Two big-hitters are behind Gayle in T20I sixes, though both have retired. Brendon Mccullum has 91 and Shane Watson 83.
Gayle will make his ODI return after two years, in the series against England. The first game will be played at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
He has also not ruled out a Test comeback, having last played one in 2014.
“Sometimes (I miss Tests),” he said. “I’m looking forward to that as well. Maybe next year I’ll try to take that challenge up. I’ll see what happens.”