OTD 2009 Chris Gayle torments Australian bowlers to script easy win for WI in T20 WC
Christopher Henry Gayle has been entertaining one and all with his outstanding power-hitting techniques in the last 15 years. On his day, he has the potential to single-handedly take the match away from the opposition with his thunderous batting.
It was on this very day in 2009 that he came up with one of his finest whirlwind knocks against the then mighty Australians. However, what really stood out here is that Gayle clobbered a pacer of Brett Lee’s calibre out of the park during this knock.
When Chris Gayle’s firepower decimated Australia
Australia and West Indies had locked horns in the group encounter of the ICC T20 World Cup 2009 at the Oval. Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat. The decision backfired as Shane Watson and Ponting went back without troubling the scorers in the very first over. In fact, Ponting was dismissed for a golden duck.
Australians kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but it was the then emerging opener David Warner who single-handedly took on the Windies bowlers by holding the innings tightly from one end. He was dismissed after scoring a 53-ball 63. In the end, supporting knocks from the Hussey brothers- David (27) and Michael (28*) helped the Aussies post a fighting total of169/7.
The Australian batters had given the bowlers something to bowl at, but Gayle completely foiled their plans right from the word ‘go’ and his counter-attacking shots created a panic among the opposition bowlers.
Gayle along with his opening partner Andre Fletcher added 133 runs for the first wicket and made this match just a formality for Australia with their aggressive batting. In the end, the ‘Universe Boss’ was dismissed scoring a blistering 88 runs from 50 deliveries at a strike rate of 176 including six fours and as many sixes.
However, the damage was already done by then and even though Windies lost Fletcher for a 32-ball 53, it did not matter at all as the Caribbeans comfortably got home by seven wickets with 25 balls to spare.
Chris Gayle was adjudged the Player of the Match for the ‘Gayle Storm’ at the Oval, which completely demoralized Ricky Ponting & Co. who were known for their never-say-die attitude especially during major tournaments.
