Gayle first to 10,000 T20 runs

Chris Gayle became the first batsman to reach 10,000 Twenty20 runs after making 77 for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.

The flamboyant 37-year-old West Indian has long been the standard bearer for the shortest format and reached the milestone in his 290th appearance, against Gujarat Lions in Rajkot.

Gayle has scored a remarkable 7,534 of those runs in fours and sixes, with 18 centuries, 61 fifties and a top score of 175 not out - all records in their own right.

Gayle began the match on 9,997 runs and reached five figures in less than spectacular fashion with three singles. He warmed to the task as things progressed, though, hitting seven sixes and five fours in his 38-ball stay.

The Jamaican has played all over the world in an increasingly nomadic career, including stints in England with Somerset and Worcestershire.

Ireland seamer Boyd Rankin has been ruled out of next month’s two-match one-day international series against England with a back injury.

Rankin returned to his national side last year after a brief and unfulfilling switch to England, which culminated in a single Test appearance against Australia.

But a back problem means the 32-year-old Warwickshire bowler will not be involved when the Irish take the field at Bristol on May 5 or Lord’s two days later.

Jacob Mulder also misses out with a similar complaint but there is good news from Kevin O’Brien and Paul Stirling, who both make the 14-man squad.

O’Brien has recovered from a hamstring problem and opener Stirling is available after a finger injury.