DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC – Estranged West Indies opener Chris Gayle continued to heap pressure on West Indies selectors, plundering an unbeaten century to headline the opening day of the Bangladesh Premier League here yesterday.
The big left-hander, repeatedly overlooked for international duty because of an impasse with the West Indies Cricket Board, slammed 101 to fire Barisal Burner to an uncomplicated 10 wickets win over Sylhet Royals.
Playing in the opening game of the newest Twenty20 pro league on the international circuit, Gayle lit up the Shere Bangla Stadium with seven fours and 10 sixes in a knock that required just 44 balls.
His innings was enough to carry the Burners to 167 off 13.1 overs, easily overhauling the Royals’ 165 for four.
Gayle completely overshadowed opening partner, Pakistani Ahmed Shezad who was handy in an unbeaten 56 off 35 balls with nine fours and a six.
The former West Indies captain’s century was his second in the space of six days, coming after he blasted 165 for Jamaica in the opening round of the WICB first class championship against Windward Islands last Saturday.
Gayle has not played for the Windies in almost a year and has been mandated by the Board to apologise for controversial comments made following last year’s World Cup, before he can be selected again.
Earlier, Somerset’s Peter Trego blasted 62 from 54 balls and Alok Kapali carved out 56 from 36 balls, to lift the Royals to their eventual total after they were sent in.
Gayle sent down a full complement of four overs which cost 27 runs.
Gayle’s fireworks stole the spotlight away from former West Indies teammate Dwayne Bravo who produced a cameo Man-of-the-Match all-round performance to lead Chittagong Kings to a 53-run victory over Duronto Rajshahi, in the second game of the doubleheader.
Bravo, also struggling to get back into the Windies side, smacked an unbeaten 38 from 19 with three fours and two sixes to help Chittagong pile up 206 for four off their allotted 20 overs.
He then returned to take three for 17 from three tight overs of medium pace as Rajshahi were restricted to 153 all out with a ball left in the innings.
