West Indies Cricket Fans

Googley wrote:is the 400 in danger?

howzdat wrote:

Googley wrote:is the 400 in danger?

It never was! Congratulations nonetheless to CG, he must be happy to end his trot of low scores. I guess you have to accept Gayle as he is, who he is. Today he scored so that's it. I hope this knock will mark the beginning of some consistency. I see that on another topic the matter of strike rate re: Chanderpaul is being discussed, from my personal preference viewpoint I don't regard it is much of an issue. Chanderpaul can "bat around" the strike rate and ability of any player in the team. Conversely, Gayle -imho- is not so readily disposed.

Check this, 72 of Gayle's 101 came in boundaries ... 16 scoring shots out of 145 balls faced, meaning that the remaining 29 runs came off 129 balls. Very watchful. But, and here i run the risk of attracting immense ridicule, does a world class opener having set himself in such a manner get out for only 101? Just asking???? I will argue that the 7 run difference between Gayle's 101 and Shiv's 108 represents an immense gulf in both batsmanship, tactical nous and as Sir Viv often opines, "tender, loving care over an innings".

If Gayle had faced 284 balls how many might he have made??? At his existing strike rate a double century for sure? So why not determine himself to bat and bat??? Oh, I forgot, that's neither Chris's game nor role in the team.

Don't get it the purpose of this post is to remind myself that CG is CG, a law unto himself but for the team ...?

Chris Gayle, living it large, scoring a hundred today. Congratulations.

Royal Challengers' victory had been set up earlier in the match by a Chris Gayle IPL classic. His unbeaten 92 from 58 balls helped his side overcome a pedestrian start, and launched them to 156 for 5. After Gayle, the next highest Royal Challengers score was 24, from Virat Kohli.

Gayle's lone hand began with uncharacteristic reticence, as the Mumbai seam bowlers, led by Mitchell Johnson, found bounce and movement on the grassy Chinnaswamy Stadium surface that had compelled Ricky Ponting to bowl first. The six Powerplay overs saw the fall of two batsmen and yielded only 31 runs, with Gayle having made four of those, from 10 deliveries. In fact it was not until the ninth over that Gayle showed any aggressive intent, when he clipped Jasprit Bumrah through the leg side, before clearing his leg and drilling a full delivery into the sightscreen, next ball.

He rarely eased up thereafter though, hitting 11 fours and five sixes in his innings, as his teammates continued to flounder around him.

1.1 Vihari to Gayle, OUT, has he got him! Hanuma Vihari is the man! He comes and bowls a gentle offspinner from round the wicket, it is a quickish delivery and bounces slightly extra, Gayle goes for a cut, but it was too close and he edges it to the keeper.. Gayle has been taken out, what a blow! What are we going to do for the next 39 overs!!

CH Gayle c †Patel b Vihari 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

0.6 Vihari to Gayle, 1 run, quicker delivery on the stumps, he dabs it to square leg to steal the strike

1.1 Steyn to Gayle, FOUR, fuller swinging delivery on off stump, the batsman just punched it, almost a defensive shot, but that races past wide mid-off..

1.2 Steyn to Gayle, no run, oye oye! Short of length delivery on off stump, comes back a touch like always, it surprises Gayle with the bounce and his hands comes off the handle ast he defends

1.3 Steyn to Gayle, no run, super delivery, 140 kph (i don't believe this, it looked faster than that), short of length delivery outside off, carries on with the angle and beats the batsman, who gets squared up in his defence

1.4 Steyn to Gayle, no run, keeps it tight around that channel outside off, Gayle defends it to the off side

1.5 Steyn to Gayle, no run, this one is wider outside off, short of length and Gayle lets it go through..

1.6 Steyn to Gayle, no run, another quick delivery on a length outside off, 141 kph, shapes in a touch, Gayle defends it to the off side without moving his feet

3.1 Steyn to Gayle, 1 run, length delivery at 139 kph, but this is wide outside off, the batsman just guides it past point without much timing, Ishant has to run around from third man and does well to cut it off

3.6 Steyn to Gayle, no run, oye, snorter! Short of length, super quick, gets up on Gayle and he fends it off from right in front of his face.. That was like a boxer avoiding getting punched

4.5 Sharma to Gayle, no run, back of length delivery on off stump, Gayle stays on the back foot and defends

4.6 Sharma to Gayle, FOUR, how! What! he moves outside leg stumps and just jams this back of length delivery on the pitch, but it bounces over Ishant and then picks up speed..

5.2 Perera to Gayle, no run, back of length delivery on off stump, the batsman defends it solidly

5.3 Perera to Gayle, 2 runs, back of length, but this is down the leg side and all Gayle has to do is to nudge it towards backward square leg, it speeds along the turf and Ashish Reddy makes a super diving save at the boundary, very well done by the fielder there

5.4 Perera to Gayle, 1 run, he waits on the back foot and dabs the back of length delivery towards midwicket for a single

6.1 Sharma to Gayle, OUT, he has got the big fish! Ishant has got him! The crowd is stunned! It is back of length on off stump, the batsman stays in the crease to defend it, the ball just deviated enough and catches the outside edge ..