West Indies’ hard-hitting batsman Chris Gayle blasted an unbeaten 146 off 69 balls as Rangpur Riders annihilated Dhaka Dynamites by 57 runs to lift the coveted Bangladesh Premier League 2017 title.
During the course of his knock, Gayle hit 18 sixes and with that he bettered his own record of most sixes in a T20 innings. Gayle had smashed 17 sixes during his record-shattering 66-ball 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bangalore versus Pune Warriors in the IPL 2013.
Furthermore, the 38-year-old Jamaican also became the first batsman to break the barrier of 11,000 run mark in T20 cricket. The closest player next on the list is Brendon McCullum, who boasts 8526 runs to his name.
Twitterverse went berserk as soon as the ‘Universe Boss’ surpassed his own record of hitting maximum sixes in T20s.
Oh my words! 18 sixes in the innings by Chris Gayle. A new world record. Beats his own tally of 17 sixes for Bangalore in IPL 2013. #MonsterBatsman
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 12, 2017
Congrats Chris: 20th T20 century in BPL final. An amazing 146 not out with 18 sixes @henrygayle pic.twitter.com/0JahEAniuu
— CricketWestIndies (@westindies) December 12, 2017
Most 6's in T20 innings by Gayle
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) December 12, 2017
18 Sixes: Once
17 Sixes: Once
15 Sixes: Once
14 Sixes: Once
13 Sixes: Once
12 Sixes: Thrice
11 Sixes: Four times
Its a rare opportunity to watch or commentate on two magnificent 100s by Gayle in three innings. That was exactly the privilege afforded to me in the @Official_BPLT20 final Rangpur vs Dhaka.
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) December 12, 2017
Last over. Gayle ???????????? #BPL2017Final pic.twitter.com/PKNRBE33N2
— Raasu (@Mr_idiott) December 12, 2017
Put into bat first by the Dhaka skipper Shakib Al Hasan, Rangpur Riders finished with 206/1 off their 20 overs. Gayle shared an unbroken 201-run stand with former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum who finished 51 off 43 balls.
Chasing the mammoth total, Dynamites batmen could only manage 149/9 in their 20 overs as Sohag Gazi, Isuru Udana and Nazmul Islam picked two wickets apiece.
