World T20: Galloping Gayle tramples England

World T20: Galloping Gayle tramples England

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©Image Courtesy ICC Media

Chris Gayle lit up the Wankhede Stadium with a blistering century as West Indies made short work of the 183 target set by England in their opening World T20 clash. The southpaw hit 11 sixes in his astonishing knock of 100 runs, from 48 just balls, as West Indies coasted home to a six-wicket win.

Brief Scores: England 182/6 in 20 overs (Joe Root 48(36), Jos Buttler 30(20); Andre Russell 2/36, Dwayne Bravo 2/41); West Indies 183/4 in 18.1 overs (Chris Gayle 100(48), Marlon Samuels 37(27); Adil Rashid 1/20, Reece Topley 1/21)

Chasing a tricky total of 182, West Indies got off to the worst start possible. David Willey picked up the wicket of Johnson Charles in the second delivery of the innings, and Eoin Morgan could hardly contain his joy. Charles was caught by Ali at the midwicket as the batsman miscued his shot. The bat face in his hands closed as he played the shot, due to a hint of swing from the left-arm pacer.

However, that wicket brought Marlon Samuels on to the crease, and with him arrived the momentum West Indies were looking for in this run chase. The 35-year-old played a blazing knock of 37 runs, in a 55-run partnership with Chris Gayle, and not many have the accolade of dominating a partnership alongside the big man.

Samuels took apart Ben Stokes in the fifth over with three stunning boundaries in three consecutive deliveries. Eventually, Adil Rashid dismissed him in the seventh over after the batsman was held out at long on while trying to clear the ropes.

After Samuels' dismissal, Gayle took over and dismissed Rashid into the stands with two massive sixes in consecutive deliveries. The dew was taking its toll on the bowlers, as they struggled to grip the ball, and West Indies batsmen were making full use of the conditions.

England managed to pull their way back into the match with the wickets of Denesh Ramdin and Dwayne Bravo, however, there was no stopping Gayle at the other end. He completed his half-century in the 12th over, before hitting Moeen Ali into the stands. The big man continued to torment Ali in the next over, and hit him for three more sixes – each bigger than the previous one.

The target of 183 started to look like walk in the park as Gayle blasted his way to another T20 century, with the help of 11 gigantic sixes. In the end, West Indies eased past the target in just 18.1 overs, with six wickets in hand.

Earlier, Darren Sammy won the toss and did not hesitate to put England into bat. Eoin Morgan said that he would have done the same, especially due to the dew which might affect the bowlers in the second innings. The wicket had a bit of grass on the top, but its sole purpose was to hold the surface together.

The ball came on to the bat perfectly for the batsmen, and after a watchful start, England openers Jason Roy and Alex Hales stepped up the scoring rate. Roy went after Jerome Taylor in the third over and took 18 runs off the over, including a wide ball which went behind for a boundary.

In the next over, Hales took apart Samuel Badree by hitting him for three consecutive boundaries – a full toss which got dispatched to the square leg, a flighted delivery which was swept to the fence, and a short delivery which was slapped through the point boundary.

England raced to 36 runs in four overs, and West Indies skipper Sammy reached out to Andre Russell for a wicket. The all-rounder did not disappoint as he dismissed Roy with his third delivery. The England opener was caught at midwicket after his attempt to clear the infield went awry.

However, the wicket did not stop the flow of runs. Joe Root came onto the crease with an aggressive intent and took the West Indies bowling apart. The Englishman announced his arrival with a delightful flick off his pads to open his account with a boundary, and then dismissed Russell into the stands in the seventh over with a stunning hook shot.

Sammy brought on Carlos Brathwaite hoping for a change in fortune, but Hales and Root took off 11 runs from his first over. Eventually, Sulieman Benn dismissed Hales, but the duo had already added 55 runs by then. The wicket slowed down the run rate, and that led to the departure of Root, just two runs short of a well-deserved 50, as for once he mistimed the ball and picked out Taylor at mid-off.

England kept losing wickets at regular interval towards the end, but Jos Buttler, Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes made valuable contributions and helped the Three Lions to a total of 182 runs.

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