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Chris Gayle may have retired from T20I cricket but he is still a legend of the format. Gayle has not lost his touch and is capable of hitting monstrous hits even when he is not in total control. In his first appearance in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2023 edition, Gayle dominated the Manipal Tigers with his opening partner Jacques Kallis in the powerplay overs. Against New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme, Gayle hit a one-handed six in the sixth over of the innings.
Here's the video of the crowd at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi went bonkers as Gayle hit a massive six to finish off the powerplay overs.
In the run chase of 174 against Harbhajan Singh-led Manipal Tigers. Gayle and Kallis went berserk in the powerplay overs. It was a mix of brute power and classy shots against the new ball bowlers Praveen Kumar, Mitchell McClenaghan, Parvinder Awana, and de Grandhomme. The partnership was broken in the seventh over of the run chase. Imran Khan got the wicket of Gayle who scored 38 runs from 24 balls featuring seven fours and a six.
Harbhajan bowled an exceptional first over taking the wicket of Richard Levi. He bowled a wicket-maiden as well. Harbhajan in his next over got the wicket of Kevin O'Brien. He scored just nine runs off just 10 balls. After two quiet overs, Parthiv Patel took on Praveen and hit him for a six and a four. Kallis reached his half-century in the 15th over with a boundary. In the 18th over, Awana turned the game upside down. He started off with the wicket of Kallis. The Proteas all-rounder scored 56 runs from 41 balls including eight boundaries. In the same over, he dismissed Chirag Khurana as well.
In the penultimate over, Thisara Perera tightened the screws. First, Gujarat Giants skipper Patel departed. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 35 runs from 26 balls including four fours and a six. Then, Trent Johnston got bowled for a two-ball duck. 16 runs were needed in the last over. Awana did not leak a single boundary and dismissed Rayad Emrit and Sarabjit Ladda for ducks. Giants were restricted to 163/9 as Tigers won the match by 10 runs.
Earlier, Patel won the toss and opted to field first. Cameos from Hamilton Masakadza (18-ball 37) and Perera (17-ball 32) helped the Tigers post 173/8. Rajat Bhatia was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 31 runs in his quota of four overs.
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