WT20: Gayle's record-breaking ton leaves England and Mumbai gasping

Swashbuckling West Indian batsman Chris Gayle blasted an unbeaten 100 off just 47 balls to steer his side to a comfortable six wicket victory against England in their Group 1 World Twenty20 cricket clash at the Wankhede Stadium here on WednesdayBatting first England posted 1836 in 20 overs thanks to Joe Roots 48In reply the hardhitting batsman from Caribbean unleashed his batting skills as he struck five boundaries and 11 massive sixes to take his team to victory as the team scored 1834 in 181 oversGayles bludgeoninginnings saw him bring up the fastest century of theWorld T20 cricket in just 47 balls to better his own 2007record of completing a ton in 50 ballsGayle also became the only second batsman in history toscore two centuries in T20 Internationals after the recentlyretired former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullumGayle whose marauding unbeaten innings in the Super 10Group 1 game kept the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium on theirfeet throughout had hit his first T20 International hundredduring the 2007 World T20 in South AfricaThe Jamaican lefthander struck 11 sixes and five fourstoday as he carried his bat through the innings He alsobecame the highest number of six hitter in T20 Internationalswith 92 in his name nowChris Gayle hits as huge six during his brilliant unbeaten innings of 100 at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday against England PicAFPChasing a challenging target of 183 West Indies got off to a disappointing start losing opener Johnson Charles 0 off the second bowl off the inningsBut his opening partner Gayle played sensibly without taking any undue riskGayle was well supported in the other end by incoming batsman Marlon Samuels 37 off 27 The duo added crucial 55 runs partnership for the second wicket to take teams score past 50run markBut legspinner Adil Rashid broke the partnership in the seventh over dismissing SamuelsWickets in the other end did not stop Gayle from scoring as he took some calculated risks to bring up his halfcentury off just 27 ballsDinesh Ramdin 12 held on in the other end along with Gayle but a silly shot from the wicketkeeper batsman in the 12th over saw him head back to the pavilion leaving West Indies at 1033Gayle stayed calm composed and took on the bowling to bring up his ton in just 47 balls He was well assisted by Andre Russell 15 not out as the duo ensured their side got past Englands total to register their first victory of the competitionDavid Willey Reece Topley Rashid and Moeen Ali claimed one wicket each for EnglandEarlier put into bat on a greentop wicket openers Alex Hales 27 and Jason Roy 15 gave England a positive start scoring 36 off the first four oversBut medium pacer Russell brought the first breakthrough in the third ball off the fifth over by dismissing RoyIncoming batsman Joe Root 48 along with opener Hales scored at a good pace from there on to bring up a 50run partnership for the second wicket in just 34 balls and take the score past 80 in 10 oversBut as Hales was looking good after striking four boundaries offspinner Sulieman Benn castled the righthanded batsman in the 12th over to reduce England to 922England received yet another blow as set batsman Root looking good to bring up his halfcentury fell short as he tried to go over the top and was eventually caught at midoff by Jerome Taylor off the bowling off RussellEngland lost the momentum losing two wickets in quick succession reaching 1143 in 142 oversA late assault by Jos Buttler 30 off 20 aided by skipper Eoin Morgan 27 not out off 14 and Ben Stokes 15 off 7 helped them reach a respectable totalAndre Russell 236 and Dwayne Bravo 241 were the pick of bowlers for the West IndiesBrief score England 1826 in 20 overs Joe Root 48 Andre Russell 236 Dwayne Bravo 241 vs West Indies 1834 in 181 overs Chris Gayle 100 not out David Willey 133 Reece Topley 121 Adil Rashid 120 Moeen Ali 138