Gayle propels Dhaka into final with blazing century
MIRPUR, Bangladesh (CMC) – West Indies opener Chris Gayle returned to form with a spectacular hundred for Dhaka Gladiators on Friday, to fire them into the final of the Bangladesh Premier League.
The left-hander hammered 114 from 51 balls as Dhaka, sent in at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, piled up 197 for nine.
His West Indies teammate Dwayne Smith then smashed 41 from 34 balls as Sylhet Royals made a fist of it to finish on 193 for six from their 20 overs.
The victory put Dhaka into Tuesday’s grand final where they will face the winner of Sunday’s semi-final between Chittagong Kings and the Royals.
Gayle struggled badly in last month’s Big Bash League and on the recent one-day tour of Australia but put his poor form behind him at a critical time for Dhaka.
In his first match of the BPL, the left-hander blasted five fours and a remarkable 12 sixes to announce his arrival.
Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan fell to the first ball of the innings and Mohammad Ashraful in the second over as Dhaka slipped to one run for two wickets, after they were sent in.
However, Gayle carried the innings on his shoulders with three critical partnerships that boosted the Dhaka innings. He put on 62 off 34 balls for the third wicket with Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (38), added a further 56 for the sixth wicket with West Indies teammate Kieron Pollard (18) and 71 for the seventh wicket with Mashrafe Mortaza (10).
In the 14th over form left-arm spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo that cost 24 runs, Gayle smashed three sixes and a four to reach his half-century.
In reply, captain Mushfiqur Rahim top scored with 86 from 44 balls, in a 82-run, third wicket stand with Smith, after veteran West Indies left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul (5) was one of two early wickets to fall.
