In another stunning performance since returning to ODI cricket, Chris Gayle broke a slew of records during West Indies’ fourth match against England on Wednesday, 27 February.
En route to his 162 off 97 balls at St George's, the 39-year-old ticked off a shopping list of targets – 50 up in 32 balls, a 10,000th One-Day run and then his hundred in 55 balls. He also became the first batsman in the world to smash 500 sixes in international cricket; earlier in the series, he had toppled Shahid Afridi to record the most number of sixes by any batsman in international cricket.
However, Gayle’s fireworks weren’t enough to help his team cross the line as West Indies were bowled out for 389. They fell 29 runs short of England’s 418/6, scored courtesy Jos Buttler’s 150 and Eoin Morgan’s 103 as well as half-centuries by Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales.
Gayle is the 14th batsman to cross the 10,000 ODI runs mark, and only the second from West Indies to do so after Brian Lara.
"I think it just shows there are going to be unbelievable days of cricket and when someone like Chris Gayle's in the opposition you can lose those games," Buttler said. "We were put under great pressure and I thought the guys did well to stand up to it."
The veteran Windies batsman Gayle had on 17 February announced that he will retire from One-Day International cricket after this year's World Cup in England and Wales.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)