Chris Gayle's 215 was the highest individual World Cup score at the time but was later erased in the same edition when New Zealand's Martin Guptill smashed 237 against the West Indies in the quarter-final in Wellington. Gayle is set to retire from ODIs after the World Cup. Here is Gayle's top-five ODI knocks
Chris Gayle will not feature in 50-over games after the World Cup 2019. He has decided to retire from the format after the quadrennial showpiece event in England and Wales.
Over the years, since his ODI debut in 1999, Gayle has enthralled cricket fans across the globe with his scintillating batting. So far, he has played 284 ODIs, scoring 9,727 runs with 23 centuries and 49 fifties.
Also read: 'I'm the greatest player in the world', says Gayle
The explosive Jamaican left-hander has played many memorable innings in ODIs. Here are Gayle’s top-five ODI knocks
February 24, 2015 was a special day in Gayle's career. The left-hander blasted his way to a ODI double hundred. It was the day when he amassed his highest score in the format — 215 against Zimbabwe in Canberra. He blazed his way into the record books in 147 balls with 10 fours and 16 sixes.
This knock was significant because Gayle was under pressure going into that World Cup group match. Many had written him off. But, he roared back to form in grand style.
The mammoth knock of 215 also ended a long wait for a ODI century from the big Jamaican's bat. Since June 2013, he had failed to touch the three-figure mark and he reached there in a big tournament.
After that historic innings, he said "even my enemy wanted me to do well".
"This is the first time since I've been playing international cricket that I have received so many messages. It felt like even my enemy wanted me to do well," he had said back then. He also said it was his best-ever ODI knock.
Thanks to Gayle's double ton and Marlon Samuels' 133, West Indies posted a mammoth 372/2 in 50 overs. In reply, the opposition were bowled out for 289.
Gayle's 215 was the highest individual World Cup score at the time but was later erased in the same edition when New Zealand's Martin Guptill smashed 237 against the West Indies in the quarter-final in Wellington.
There are some players who rise to the occasion when it matters. Gayle did the same when West Indies faced South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy 2006 semi-final in Jaipur.
Batting first, the Proteas scored 258/8 in 50 overs. It was up to Gayle to provide the West Indies a good start in the run chase and he did it against Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel.
Gayle remained unbeaten on 133 off 135 with 17 fours and three sixes to take his team home with six overs and six wickets remaining. He was well supported by Shivnarine Chanderpaul (57, retired hurt). Expectedly, Gayle won the Man-of-the-match award.
England's two centuries, one each from Andrew Strauss (100) and Andrew Flintoff (123) were neutralised by Gayle force. England made 285/7 in 50 overs and in reply, West Indies reached the target with five balls to spare.
Gayle was the chief architect of victory. It was not a typical Gayle knock as he took 165 deliveries for his 132 not out with 12 fours and one six. Gayle's hundred came off 141 balls. He made England pay after Strauss had dropped the batsman when on 19. It was an important knock for Gayle as it helped the team to reach the tri-series final, against New Zealand.
India's bowling attack comprising Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble were up against Gayle. He hit a match-winning 103 off 116 with eight fours and three sixes.
Chasing 280 from 47 overs, Gayle proved his worth once again at the top of the order. He brought up his 50 off 51 balls and got to hundred from 111 balls. Though Srinath removed Gayle bowled when the score was 221, the Jamaican had ensured that the team were in a good position. And, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chanderpaul finished the job with four balls to spare.
Gayle made his ODI debut in September 1999 and it took nearly two years for him to register his maiden hundred. And when it arrived, it was a big one. He amassed 152 off 150 balls with 17 fours and a six against Kenya in Nairobi.
West Indies posted 311/4 in 50 overs after Gayle's knock. In reply, Kenya were bowled out for 205.
For any batsman, a maiden ton at the international is memorable and Gayle's Nairobi innings will always be in his mind even after his retirement.
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