DUBAI: West Indies batsman Chris Gayle has become the first player ever in the history of cricket to smash 1,000 sixes in T20 cricket.
Chim Gayle missed another Twenty20 century when he was dismissed for 99 runs as Kings XI Punjab posted an imposing total of 185 runs on the board during the Indian Premier League.
The heroics for Kings XI Punjab were not enough to stop Steve Smith guide Rajasthan Royals to a seven-wicket win.
Gayle, the only player to amass more than 13,000 T20 runs in over 400 matches, smashed 99 off 63 balls, with eight sixes. The seventh of those took his career tally in T20s to the magical 1,000 mark.
Fast bowler Jofra Archer who spoiled Gayle’s landmark afternoon, yorking him one short of what would have been his 23rd T20 century.
“Getting out on 99 is unfortunate, but I have been there and done that,” Gayle said. “It was a good ball. This happens. Still enjoying it out there. Having fun. Still have to be hitting it well at the age of 41. Got to give thanks for that.”
“To those who wanted a century, I am sorry I missed out today – but in my mind it is a century,” he said.
Gayle’s T20 batting statistics are staggering, underlined by the fact that the next best six-hitting batsman is his fellow West Indies team mate Kieron Pollard, who has cleared the boundary ropes 690 times in over 450 innings.
Smith was the man left with the biggest smile after his side, who would have been out of contention if they has lost, overhauled Punjab’s 4-185 for the loss of just three wickets in the 18th over.
To reach the playoffs next week, both teams now need to win their last round-robin matches on Sunday and hope other results go their way.
In the chase, Ben Stokes (50) and Robin Uthappa (30) gave Rajasthan a flying start that was then propelled by Sanju Samson (48) and finished by Smith himself (31 not out) and Jos Buttler (22 not out).
Stokes dominated the start of the chase, scoring 50 of the first 60 runs before he was out in the sixth over. “We still need to do a bit to make the playoffs, and we need things to go our way,” Smith said. “Having said that, if that happens, we are playing very good cricket.”
