Gayle breaks World Cup record as Windies blow Pakistan away
● Opener now the highest six- hitter in tournament’s history but back injury during halfcentury is concern
Chris Gayle broke the record for the most sixes in World Cup histor y on his way t o smashing a half- century in the West Indies’ comprehensive seven- wicket win over Pakistan at Trent Bridge.
At a ground synonymous with mammoth totals in oneday internationals in recent years, Pakistan’s carelessness in the face of the short- ball tactic meant they crumpled to 105 all out in 21.4 overs.
Oshane Thomas was t he main beneficiar y with four for 27 on his tournament bow before Gayle took centre stage amid a blizzard of boundaries as the Windies overhauled their target with 36.2 overs to spare.
There will be fears over the 39- year- old’s fitness after he seemed to injure his lower back shortly before his dismissal but his 50 from 34 balls quietened a largely pro- Pakistan crowd.
His day was made easier by Pakistan posting their second worst World Cup score after being invited to bat first, as the pace quartet of Thomas, Jason Holder, Andre Russell and Sheldon Cottrell shared all ten wickets.
It was Russell, playing in only his third ODI since November 2015, who laid the blueprint for the rest to follow as his introduction hastened Pakistan’s demise.
A persistent knee i njur y since completing a 12- month dopi ng whereab out s s uspension in January 2018 has impeded Russell’s progress but he was recently named most valuable player at the Indian Premier League.
And after Imam- ul- Haq was strangled down the legside for two off Cottrell, prompting the left- arm seamer’s now customary march and salute celebration, Russell came to the fore.
A brute of a bouncer caught Pakistan dangerman Fakhar Zaman by surprise and he missed an attempted pull, with the ball hitting the grille of his helmet before dislodging the bails.
Russell showed no inclination of abandoning the ploy, which left Haris Sohail routinely troubled and, perhaps anticipating another lifter, the batsman could only get an edge behind when one was angled across him.
PAKISTAN innings
WEST INDIES innings
Russell’s f i er y s pell ended with figures of 3- 1- 4- 2 but Pakistan were given barely any respite following his surprise withdrawal from the attack. The in- form Babar Azam was dropped at backward point on 12 but could add only another ten runs before he edged a rising, wider delivery from Thomas to wicketkeeper Hope, who took a brilliant catch diving to his right.
Hope had his fourth catch of t he morning when Sarfraz Ahmed gloved down the leg- side off Holder – the not out decision overturned on review – and Pakistan quickly subsided after their captain’s dismissal.
They added only another 30 runs for their final five wickets, largely thanks to some lusty blows from Wahab Riaz, one of only four Pakistan batsmen to reach double figures before being cleaned up by Thomas for 18 off 11 balls.
In response, Gayle made a rusty start but warmed to his task with back- to- back sixes off Hasan Ali, which took the evergreen opener to 39 World Cup maximums and past AB De Villiers’ record for the most hit in the tournament’s history, which stood at 37. Moha mmad Ami r, who was passed fit after missing t he recent England series, ensured there would be no abject surrender from Pakistan as he snared both Shai Hope and Darren Bravo.
Gayle was a long way from his fluent best but still brought up a 33- ball half- century, falling off the next deliver y to Amir – as the left- armer found form by returning figures of three for 26.
Nicholas Pooran took up the baton and finished with 34 from 19 balls as the 1975 and 1979 champions started their tournament in ideal fashion, while Pakistan, winners in 1992, succumbed to their 11th successive ODI defeat.