Gayle is finally back with a match-winning knock
dubai — Forty-four runs, 17 balls, five sixes, two fours.
At long last, Chris Gayle finally turned up at the party. There was no black tuxedo nor a hip-hop attire, just that piece of wood in hand to bludgeon that white leather round-shaped thing.
That’s what Gayle does best, and that’s what team owners pay millions for, and that’s what fans at the gates pay to come and watch.
And that’s what Gayle did in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) match against Islamabad United, late on Sunday night.
The West Indian had been shadow walking right through the tournament, so much so that, his team, Karachi Kings, took the painful decision to bench him for one game.
Perhaps, that may have done the trick, or there may be some other reason. But that doesn’t matter anymore. Gayle is back to where he truly belongs and any lingering doubts about his status were washed aside like that pelting rain that had preceded the ‘Gayle-storm.’
Gayle hip-hopped his way like champions do, to make Islamabad United’s total of 123 look paltry.
Asked why the ‘Gayle-storm’ was delayed, Gayle and said: “Weather.”
“Very cold .... didn’t get any sunshine. That’s the reason,” Gayle continued. One could almost sense that a big and large block of weight had come off those massive shoulders.
“I am just kidding. I wasn’t playing much cricket so definitely rusty and was travelling. And I haven’t been practicing and it showed in the middle. But I am a professional and I am not going to find any excuse. But I did find time to practice here for the PSL and it takes a bit of time. You definitely take some time to get back into the groove and once you get back into the situation again, things start to flow again. Cricket is like that you always need time to succeed,” said Gayle.
With Gayle yet to fire, quite understandably, the fans were left disappointed and some even said he had passed his sell-by date.
The Jamaican was aware of it and said that it felt good to now get the love back.
“I was getting a lot of stick from the fans when I was not performing. But I am really happy that I did. But it was so important that people were shouting ‘Chris Gayle, Chris Gayle’ and then the stadium erupted and everybody was cheering me and that gave me some boost as well. And that’s where I got some momentum. So, I thank the fans for sticking with me. They expect big things from a professional so I am glad that I have given them something to cheer and hopefully, Inshallah it will happen again,” he said.
Gayle also got backing from his own team as well as his compatriot Kieron Pollard and he said that eased things.
“They are very supportive for not only me but also for every other player who matters in the team. On a particular day, your match winners can win a game, like Pollard did in the last game.
“So it’s important to have match winners. The two experienced people, the captain and coach and a lot of the senior guys backed me,” said Gayle.
“That’s important and I’m happy that you are backed. He (Pollard) is my fellow Caribbean and he has done wonders in the last game and took us to the line,” he added.
james@khaleejtimes.com