GEORGETOWN—Superstar Chris Gayle further enhanced his status as the world’s premier Twenty20 batsman with a whirlwind hundred in the Unity Cricket match here Saturday. The Jamaican left-hander blasted 101 from a mere 48 balls as his Legacy All Star XI chased down 177 to trounce 007 Warriors by three wickets with 19 balls to spare at the National Stadium at Providence.
Gayle pummeled four fours and 11 sixes as he raced to his half-century off 34 balls, and then required only a further 13 deliveries to reach three figures in an amazing innings. In the 14th over of the innings from leg-spinner Samuel Badree which gushed 31 runs, Gayle smashed five consecutive sixes.
Gayle, who put on 50 off 32 deliveries for the first wicket with Andre Fletcher (18), eventually retired at 150 for one with the All Stars well on their way to victory. Former West Indies stroke-maker Ramnaresh Sarwan weighed in with 24 while Windies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo struck 22.
Earlier, West Indies limited overs opener Lendl Simmons stroked 50 off 38 balls with five fours and two sixes to help 007 Warriors up to 176 for eight off their 20 overs. West Indies Test captain Jason Holder managed just 13 while T20 skipper Darren Sammy got 12. T20 star Dwayne Smith failed with seven.
Bravo claimed two for 23 with his medium pace. The match was a private venture staged to contribute to Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations.
