HOBART, Australia, CMC – West Indies batting star Chris Gayle produced a whirlwind knock as Melbourne Renegades stormed to an emphatic five-wicket victory over Darren Sammy’s Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League here yesterday.
The left-hander blasted 41 runs from just 15 deliveries, an innings which provided the momentum for the visitors to chase down a victory target of 141 in a mere 14 overs at the Bellerive Oval.
Gayle counted four fours and three sixes and put on an amazing 84 off 36 deliveries for the first wicket with Captain Aaron Finch whose top score of 60 came from 39 balls and included 11 boundaries.
In an early display of his intent, Gayle struck boundaries off the first two balls he faced at the start of the second over from pacer Jake Reed and then followed up by smashing a four and two sixes off speedster Shaun Tait’s next over which leaked 18 runs.
He cleared the ropes at mid-wicket with left-arm seamer Sam Rainbird in the next over but perished in the next over from leg-spinner Cam Boyce, mis-cuing another big hit into the deep.
Renegades then lost wickets steadily, including that of West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who made seven before falling in the 14th over with victory within reach.
Earlier, Dan Christian stroked 58 from 40 balls and opener Ben Dunk, 37 from 38, to help Hurricanes up to 140 for five after being sent in.
Sammy finished unbeaten on nine while medium pacer Bravo went wicket-less from four overs which cost 41 runs.
