DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC – Discarded West Indies opener Chris Gayle continued to weave his magic with his willow, pummeling yet another century in the Bangladesh Premier League.
The former West Indies captain carved out an exciting 116 yesterday from 61 balls in the feature match of the day’s doubleheader at the Shere Bangla National Stadium but it was in a losing cause as his Barisal Burners went down by 21 runs to Kieron Pollard’s Dhaka Gladiators.
Gayle, controversially overlooked by West Indies selectors for the last year because of an standoff with the regional board, counted six fours and 11 amazing sixes to set the innings alight. However, he found no support and when he was out in the 18th over, the Burners limped to 187 for five in response to the Gladiators’ 208 for five.
Earlier, Pollard lashed five sixes in a frenetic 15-ball 36 to bolster the Gladiators’ innings. He put on a breezy 62 off 28 balls with Azhar Mahmood who top-scored with 77 from 47 balls.
Imran Nazir had given the innings a flying start with 58 from 35 balls, including three fours and five sixes.
In reply, the Burners were languishing at 60 for three in the eighth over before Gayle staged a valiant fightback, posting 103 for the fourth wicket with Mithun Ali whose measured 38 required 32 balls.
In the preceding game, West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels slammed a top score of 72 as Duronto Rajshahi beat Sylhet Royals by 16 runs.
The right-handed Samuels faced just 48 balls and struck three fours and five sixes to help fire Rajshahi up to 171 for eight off their allotted overs.
He was at the centre of two good partnerships – 56 for the third wicket with captain Mushfiqur Rahim (33) and 53 for the fifth wicket with Abdul Razzaq (30) – before perishing in the 17th over.
Samuels returned to take one for 22 from four overs of stingy off-spin, keeping the Royals in check despite Kamran Akmal’s 41-ball 56.
