Top five: The best of Chris Gayle in ODIs
Gayle, who is reputed for his explosive approach to batting, holds a number of records in the game and has the unique distinction of being the only batsman to have hit a triple century in Tests, a double ton in ODIs and a three-digit score in Twenty20 Internationals. Let us revisit some of the Jamaican's finest hours in 50-over cricket.
103 v India, Vidarbha Cricket Association, Nagpur, 9 November 2002
West Indies, having registered a thrilling last-ball win in the first game of the seven-match series in India, were chasing a target of 280 in the next match in Nagpur. Gayle stitched a 134-run stand for the second wicket with Marlon Samuels to put his team in a commanding position.
The left-hander occupied the crease till the 39th over as he completed his second century in ODIs. His 116-ball stay was studded with eight fours and three sixes, as he ensured that his team remained ahead of the required rate. West Indies completed a comfortable seven-wicket win and took a 2-0 lead in the series.
132* v England, Lord's, London, 6 July 2004
Centuries from Andrew Strauss and Andrew Flintoff helped England post a par score of 285/7 in the allotted 50 overs. With a spot in the finals to play for, Gayle, playing his 100th ODI game, scored a patient 132* and nurtured the West Indies run-chase as they knocked hosts England out of the tri-nation series, featuring New Zealand as the third team.
Gayle's 165-ball stay at the crease remains his longest in terms of balls faced in ODI cricket. He put on a 187-run partnership for the second-wicket with Ramnaresh Sarwan, but when the latter was dismissed by James Anderson for 89, West Indies still needed 84 runs at seven runs an over. Brain Lara's early dismissal further revived England's hopes, but Gayle's grit and Ricardo Powell's late blitz ensured that West Indies completed a comprehensive seven-wicket win – the second-highest successful run chase at Lord's.
133* v South Africa, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, 2 November 2006
Having won the previous edition of the tournament, West Indies faced South Africa in the semi-final clash of the ICC Champions Trophy 2006 in Jaipur. Herschelle Gibbs scored a steady 77 as South Africa posted a competitive 258/8 in 50 overs. However, their strong bowling attack, featuring Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel and Jacques Kallis, seemed clueless as Gayle's blistering innings of 133* helped West Indies qualify for their second straight final.
Gayle, along with the experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul, put on 154 runs for the first wicket in just 26 overs. South Africa managed to pick up some quick wickets after Chanderpaul was forced to retire hurt on 57. However, Gayle playing his 150th ODI, stayed strong and fittingly hit the winning runs, giving his side a resounding six-wicket win with as many overs to spare.
215 v Zimbabwe, Manuka Oval, Canberra, 24 February 2015
The 15th match of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2015 saw numerous batting records tumble as Chris Gayle mauled the hapless Zimbabwe attack with a breezy 215 in Canberra. Having won the toss, West Indies lost opener Dwayne Smith for duck on the second ball of the innings.
Zimbabwe then had to wait till the final ball of the innings for their next wicket as Gayle was eventually dismissed, but not before he smashed the first double-century in a World Cup and put on 372 runs for the second wicket with Marlon Samuels – a record partnership for any wicket in ODI history.
Chris Gayle smashes 16 sixes against Zimbabwe!
Gayle scored a stroke-filled 215 off 147 balls which included ten hits to the fence and 16 over it. His 16 sixes remained a joint record (alongside Rohit Sharma and AB de Villiers) for most sixes hit in an ODI innings, until Eoin Morgan bettered it against Afghanistan in the 2019 edition. Zimbabwe were eventually bundled out for 289 runs, handing West Indies a 73-run win by DLS method, after a rain interruption had revised the target to 363 from 48 overs.
162 v England, National Cricket Stadium, St George's, Grenada, 27 February 2019
Coming into the home series against England early this year, Gayle hadn't played international cricket for close to seven months, but he seemed at ease right away. Playing against one of his favorite oppositions, against whom he maintains a batting average in excess of 50, Gayle scored 135 and 50 in the first two games.
With the five-match series level after a rained off third ODI, England, powered by centuries from Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler, posted a mammoth 418/6 batting first. In reply, Gayle showed intent right from the word go, hitting five sixes off Chris Woakes alone in the mandatory 10-over Powerplay. He was joined by Darren Bravo in the sixth over, as the two put on 176 runs for the third wicket to keep England at bay.
However, lack of partnerships in the second half of the innings hurt West Indies and Gayle's dismissal in the 35th over dented the chase as the tourists eventually fell short by 29 runs. Gayle's 97-ball stay at the crease included 11 fours and 14 sixes.