Chris Gayle smote 11 sixes in a match-winning 100 not out, setting various records in the process, as his accelerating masterclass gave West Indies a six-wicket win over England in their ICC World Twenty20 opener.
Gayle became the first player to hit 50 World T20 sixes before beating Brendon McCullum’s record of 91 T20 international maximums. By the end of the game he had 98.
The powerful West Indies opener made light work of overhauling England’s 182 for six, albeit he had just 22 to his name after eight overs.
Having played himself in, he went after England’s bowlers with 75 more runs by the end of the 16th before going on become the first person to make two World T20 tons. His innings occupied 48 balls.
England, put in by Darren Sammy, earlier rode on a smooth 48 from Joe Root plus handy contributions from Alex Hales, Jos Buttler and Eoin Morgan.
Yet the total proved insufficient as Gayle followed up Marlon Samuels‘ brisk 37 to leave Morgan’s men needing to pick themselves up prior to Friday’s meeting with South Africa, also at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Full report follows…
Source: ECB