Chris Gayle plundered 84 runs from 22 balls as Team Abu Dhabi defeated Maratha Arabians by nine wickets in the Abu Dhabi T10 earlier today.
The 41-year-old Gayle achieved a strike rate of 381.82, smashing six fours and nine sixes in a brutal onslaught on the Arabians bowling that powered TAD, chasing 98 for victory, to 100 for 1 off just 5.3 overs.
The Universe Boss signalled his intent from as early as the first over bowled by Yamin Ahmadzai that went for 18 runs. It was his only over of the match.
In fact, none of the Arabians bowlers got more than one over in as Gayle unleashed his special brand of carnage.
Twenty-seven runs came off Sampal Kami’s over. Paul Stirling hit consecutive fours from his first two balls before a single off the third turned him over to Gayle, who then hit him for three consecutive sixes.
Mossaddek Hossain bowled the third over and after conceding two runs from his first delivery, then had Stirling caught at cow corner for 11 when the score was 47. Unfortunately, for him, the batsman crossed while the ball was in the air putting Mossaddek squarely in the crosshairs of the Universe Boss, whose 50 came up from just 12 balls.
His next four balls went for 20 runs – 4, 6, 4, 6 – as the early promise was cut to shreds by Gayle’s blade.
In the over that followed, Maroof Merchant’s conceded three runs from the first four balls before it was spoiled by consecutive sixes from Gayle.
Ishan Malhotra bowled the fifth over and only conceded 10 runs with one four coming from Gayle’s bat.
Mercifully, the nightmare ended for Maratha Arabians mid-way the sixth over when Gayle slogged Mutkar Ali over midwicket for his ninth six.
Joe Clarke was unbeaten on 5 at the end.
Earlier, Obed McKoy 2 for 20 helped restrict Maratha Arabians to 97 for 4. Alishan Sharafu was their leading scorer with 33 from 23 balls. Mohammed Hafeez (20) and Shoaib Malik 15* helped push the score along but were stymied by the bowling of Tom Helm, whose two overs only cost eight runs.
Jamie Overton and Naveen-ul-Haq each took 1 for 21 from their respective quotas.
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Dr. Donovan Bennett defeats Billy Heaven in JCA Presidential election
Dr. Donovan Bennett is the new president of the Jamaica Cricket Association after defeating Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven at Thursday’s elections at the 20th JCA Annual General Meeting held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.
Bennett, who served as JCA vice-president for 11 years, is set for his first term at the helm after a 67-30 victory.
Heaven served as JCA president for the last 10 years and was seeking a fifth term.
New Zealand take unassailable series lead after hard-fought victory over Pakistan
Pakistan slumped to a four-run defeat at the hands of New Zealand despite the efforts of Abbas Afridi and Fakhar Zaman.
The Black Caps took an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series, thanks in the main to Tim Robinson (51) and bowling duo William O'Rourke (3-27) and Ben Sears (2-27) on Thursday.
Set a target of 179 to win, Pakistan looked on their way to victory when Fakhar Zaman got going, but he was eventually dismissed on 61 by Sears.
Abbas took three wickets in New Zealand's innings, yet he could only contribute a single run to Pakistan's cause as the hosts fell just short in Lahore.
Data Debrief
Shadab Khan did not bowl a single delivery for Pakistan, which is the first time that has happened in a completed T20I innings.
He did take an exceptional catch to dismiss Mark Chapman, but it was not enough to inspire Pakistan.
IPL: Kohli and Patidar star to snap RCB's losing streak
Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended a six-match losing streak in the Indian Premier League by claiming a convincing 35-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Bengaluru still sit bottom of the standings, but have reason to cheer after Virat Kohli's 51 and Rajat Patidar's 20-ball 50 got the job done in style on Thursday.
Cameron Green chipped in with a useful 37 as RCB reached 206-7 from their 20 overs, and the Australian then took 2-12 with the ball as the Sunrisers failed to get going.
Shahbaz Ahmed top scored for Sunrisers with 40 not-out, but it was not enough as they only mustered 171-8 in response.
Data Debrief
Thursday's match marked Jaydev Unadkat's 100th in the IPL, and though he finished on the losing side, he did take a memorable three-for to celebrate the occasion.
It was Unadkat who dismissed Kohli, Patidar and Mahipal Lomror, finishing with figures of 3-30.
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