CHRIS GAYLE tore up the record books yesterday as he powered his way to the fastest-ever century in professional cricket off just 30 balls. He went on to make the highest ever score in a Twenty20 match as he hit a barely credible 175 runs off just 66 balls.
The West Indian opener, who is renowned for his big hitting, did the damage as he played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore against the hapless Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League competition. Gayle broke the record for the most sixes in a single innings in all forms of cricket as he cleared the rope 17 times during his spectacular onslaught. He also notched 13 fours as he helped his team register the highest-ever T20 score when they reached 263-5, at a rate of more than 13 runs an over.
Several of his sixes not only cleared the boundary rope but also disappeared from the stadium, and one apparently hit an unlucky bird.
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"There have been few more ferocious attacks on bowlers in professional cricket," commented Patrick Kidd in The Times. Gayle's West Indian team mate Darren Sammy put it just as eloquently on Twitter when he said of the giant opener: "He's not human... he's a tsunami mixed with a nuclear bomb."
- Australia have named wicket-keeper Brad Haddin as vice-captain for the Ashes tour of England this summer after Shane Watson stepped down from the role following the controversial series in India. There are no places for erratic fast bowler Mitchell Johnson or all-rounder Steve Smith in the touring party. Nathan Lyon is the only spinner. Seamer James Faulkner is the only uncapped player in the squad, although many of the players are inexperienced at Test level.
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