Chris Gayle who became the first batsman to reach the 14,000-run landmark in the T20s during West Indies’s victory over Australia in the third match on July 13 (IST) was described as the best T20 cricketer of all time by Cricket West Indies chief. Chris Gayle smashed seven sixes and four fours as he top-scored with 67 off 38 balls as West Indies clinched the series 3-0 with two matches still to be played.
In a message sent to Chris Gayle, CWI chief Ricky Skerritt described him as the best T20 cricketer of all time and expressed pleasure that he is still entertaining fans all over the world.
Chris Gayle Is The Best T20 Cricketer Of All Time: Ricky Skerritt
“Chris Gayle is the best T20 cricketer of all time… his success and experience are extremely valuable to the rebuilding of West Indies cricket and especially in the preparation for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup,” said Ricky Skerritt.
The two teams will return to the same venue on July 14 (July 15 IST) for the fourth T20I. West Indies are the defending ICC T20 world champions and are using this series as part of their preparations for the upcoming event to be played from October 17 to November 14.
Chris Gayle Returns To Form In T20Is As He Becomes The First Batsman To Score 14000 T20 Runs
The left-handed southpaw who became the first player to score 14,000 T20 runs, smashed 67 off 38 balls. It was the 41-year-old’s highest score in 20 T20 internationals since 2016. The batsman, who had totalled just 41 in his five previous T20 internationals, went scoreless in his first three deliveries from Mitchell Starc. But the left-hander blasted 18 runs off four consecutive Josh Hazlewood deliveries, following a six-over-long-on with three fours.
He took 22 off an over from legspinner Adam Zampa, reaching his half-century with a third successive six before falling to recalled paceman Riley Meredith (3-48 of 3.5). While the left-hander smashed seven sixes, Australia cleared the boundary just twice in another modest batting effort, scoring 141-6 after being dismissed for 140 and 127 in the first two games.
Recalled Australian pacer Riley Meredith dismissed the swashbuckling batsman and was at one stage on a hat-trick. It is the first time West Indies have won a bilateral series (or more than one match) against Australia in any format since 1995.
3rd T20I: West Indies 142 for 4 (Gayle 67, Pooran 32*, Meredith 3-48) beat Australia 141 for 6 (Henriques 33, Walsh 2-18) by six wickets