The bigger the stage, the better for Chris Gayle, says a report in Hindustan Times, adding that on Friday evening, the Twenty20 king produced another spectacular show to power the West Indies to a 74-run victory in the semifinal of the ICC World Twenty20.
“For the first time, the 200-run mark was breached in the tournament as the West Indians, batting first, finished at 205 for four in 20 overs and set up a title clash with hosts Sri Lanka,” says the report, adding that apart from the bowlers, the challenge at the Premadasa track has been to overcome the slow nature of the track, but such was the Caribbean batsmen's brilliance that the conditions and quality of bowling were thrown out of the equation as they scored their runs at a rate of 10.25, smashing a mind-boggling 14 sixes during the course of the action-packed innings.
“Gayle was the showstopper, carrying his bat through the innings to return unbeaten on 75, scored off 41 deliveries. The match was as good as over when Shane Watson and David Warner were out for one and seven respectively. Captain George Bailey hit a brave 29-ball 63 but it was only aimed at reducing the margin of humiliation,” adds the report.
Meanwhile The Times Of India report says that Chris Gayle's 'Gangnam' style of partying continues, both on and off the field!. Earlier this week, the West Indian star's bash was 'busted' by the Sri Lankan police officials, who briefly arrested three British women from Gayle's room early on the morning of Wednesday.
“On Friday night, however, there was no stopping Gayle and the Caribbean boys as they let their hair down at the expense of a shell-shocked Australia, smashing them by 74 runs in the second semifinal of the WorldTwenty20 at the Premadasa,” says the report, adding that Gayle, who has promised his fans that he would keep celebrating in the 'Gangnam' style (which has become a super hit ever since South Korean rapper Psy invented it recently), broke into a jive as soon as Ravi Rampaul picked up the final Australian wicket, and for once, every soul in the stadium, except the poor Aussies, wanted to join in.
Meanwhile The Hindu report says that off-field issues and the salacious delight that pervades sections of the media when a man’s personal life becomes part of the public gaze hardly deterred Chris Gayle from revealing his primary goal in life — mauling bowlers.
“That philosophy was again on view as the belligerent opener’s unbeaten 75 (41b, 5x4, 6x6) set a powerful platform for the West Indies to defeat Australia by 74 runs in the ICC World Twenty20 semifinal at the R. Premadasa Stadium here on Friday. Once its big three — Shane Watson, David Warner and Michael Hussey — were back in the dugout with just 29 on the board while spinners Samuel Badree and Marlon Samuels dominated the early overs, Australia was never in contention,” says the report, adding that the huge total that the West Indies posted — 205 for four, left no scope for recovery and though George Bailey (63, 29b, 6x4, 4x6) waged a lone hand and even hammered Andre Russell in an over that went for 25 runs, the Australian captain and his men could only muster 131.
