Gayle’s century helps Tallawahs ace 192 chase

Chris Gayle struck his 18th T20 century, an unbeaten 54-ball 108 with six fours and 11 sixes, to help Jamaica Tallawahs hunt down their target of 192 against Trinbago Knight Riders in Port-of-Spain. The win propelled Tallawahs to the top of the table with two successive wins while Knight Riders slumped to their third loss in four games.

Tallawahs’ chase began slowly, with openers Gayle and Chadwick Walton adding 29 in 35 balls. At the end of the Powerplay, Gayle was on a run-a-ball 17. Kumar Sangakkara brought the required impetus with a brisk 20, but his dismissal left Tallawahs needing 121 off the last 10 overs.

However, Gayle laid into the bowlers thereafter, as Tallawahs plundered 71 off the following three overs. A 30-run 13th over from Sulieman Benn, which included four sixes by Gayle, brought Tallawahs within 50 of the target with seven overs left. Gayle and Andre Russell shared a 107-run third-wicket stand.

Russell contributed with an 18-ball 24 before he holed out to long-off in the 17th over, but Tallawahs cruised to the target with 10 balls to spare. Sunil Narine was the pick of the bowlers, with figures of 1 for 9 from four overs.

After being asked to bat, Knight Riders were given a brisk start by Brendon McCullum and Hashim Amla, who anchored the innings with a brisk 74. Their 49-run stand was broken by a slider from Imad Wasim that got past McCullum’s cut to clatter into the off stump.

Colin Munro, who struck the CPL’s first ton by an overseas player in the previous game, continued his impressive form with a quickfire 55. Knight Riders scored 53 off the last four overs to finish with 191, but were still a few runs short. (ESPNCricinfo)

Photo caption: Chris Gayle’s destructive century included six fours and 11 sixes (CPL/Sportsfile)