Mt. Gayle erupts

Kings XI smothered by the Jamaican’s fiery century.

May 07, 2015 03:26 am | Updated November 16, 2021 02:22 pm IST - Bengaluru:

DOING A CRISTIANO: RCB's Chris Gayle pirouettes and thrusts his arms out in celebration, much like the Real Madrid striker, after completing his breathtaking century.

DOING A CRISTIANO: RCB's Chris Gayle pirouettes and thrusts his arms out in celebration, much like the Real Madrid striker, after completing his breathtaking century.

Chris Gayle was menacingly dormant since Royal Challengers Bangalore’s opening game this IPL season. He finally erupted on Wednesday, searing Kings XI Punjab with his volcanic century at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Gayle’s 117 (57b, 7x4, 12x6) was at the heart of RCB’s brutal 138-run victory, lifting the side to third place on the table.

Inserted in to bat, the home team racked up an imposing 226 — the tournament's highest score so far — before dismissing Punjab for 88. Mitchell Starc took four for 15 and S. Arvind, playing his first match this season, four for 27 as the second innings lasted all of 13.4 overs.

Punjab’s response began inauspiciously, with Manan Vohra exiting in the opening over. M. Vijay followed him to the dug-out soon, bowled by Harshal Patel.

Arvind was only drafted into the RCB sqaud after injury to Adam Milne, but the Karnataka bowler’s display here was heartening. He accounted for Glenn Maxwell, David Miller and George Bailey in the space of some 15 minutes — all three batsmen losing their off-stump — as Punjab’s challenge fell to pieces.

Thirty nine for six turned to 65 for nine after Starc joined in the fun with his yorkers. Punjab sank to an embarrassing defeat and remained glued to the bottom of the table, with virtually zero chance of qualifying for the play-offs.

He wanted to entertain the crowd today, Gayle had said after the toss. He would give them enough to last a week. Having skipped the previous game to rest his back, Gayle put his restored energies to full use, taking 20 runs off Mitchell Johnson in the second over. There were two tall sixes, the ball sent back with as much speed as it had reached him.

The Jamaican had his share of luck — he was dropped twice, on 27 and 53 — but it took no sheen off his spectacular hitting. Sandeep Sharma was walloped for 24 in the third over, during which Bailey shelled a mildly difficult catch running back from mid-off.

Sixty-eight runs came off the Power Play overs, before Punjab turned to spin. It made little difference, although Axar Patel will wonder what might have been had Manan Vohra not inexplicably dropped Gayle off the bowler’s first delivery on the square-leg boundary.

Axar was clobbered for two gigantic sixes in his next over, the second one rattling the sheet-metal of the roof. By the time Karanveer Singh came on, Gayle was roaring along at full speed. The leg-spinner was struck over the ropes twice in succession — not that any other outcome was likely.

At the other end, Virat Kohli had departed for 32, having played his part in a 119-run partnership. It did little to slow Gayle down, who raised his hundred off 46 balls. He pirouetted and thrust his arms out in celebration, much like Cristiano Ronaldo.

Gayle fell to a fine return catch by Axar, even as A.B. de Villiers hammered Punjab relentlessly, his unbeaten 24-ball-47 leaving the opponent gasping. Only Anureet Singh emerged with any credit, giving up a niggardly 25 runs from his four overs. But it did not remotely affect RCB’s chances.

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