At 39, Chris Gayle becomes 3rd oldest batsman to achieve this record in ODI cricket
On Thursday, West Indies opener Chris Gayle marked his comeback in one-day international cricket by smashing an amazing century. The 39-year-old last played an ODI match against Bangladesh in July 2018 and have announced his retirement from international cricket after 2019 ICC World Cup.
Gayle scored 135 runs off 129 balls with the help of three boundaries and 12 sixes and in the process he hit his 24th ODI century. Gayle is now on the 8th position on the list of batsmen with most number of hundreds in one-day international cricket.
Gayle also became the third oldest player to hit an ODI ton after United Arab Emirates’ Khurram Khan (43 years 162 days) vs Afghanistan in 2014 and Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuria (39 years 212 days) vs India in 2009. Gayle achieved this feat aged 39 years 152 days.
Gayle also broke Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi’s record to top the list of most number of sixes in international cricket. Gayle now has 488 international sixes, while Afridi had hit 476 sixes during his 22-year career.
Gayle’s hundred went in vain as England went on to win the first ODI out of the five they will play against West Indies. England chased down the mammoth target of 361 runs with 6 wickets in hand.
Opener Jason Roy’s 123 off 85 balls helped England gain the early momentum, while Joe Root took contributed with his bat by making 102 runs before falling with the scores tied. Jos Butler came in and clipped his first ball for four to seal a historic win against the Windies.
