Daily Times

DHAKA: Chris Gayle gave it the full Universe Boss treatment after striking a world-record 18 sixes to turn the final of the Bangladesh Premier League into an affirmation of his talent. Asked by media if he would class himself as the Don Bradman of T20s, Gayle banged his own publicity drum after another epic display. “I’m the greatest batsman of all time,” he pronounced. To watch Gayle, legs slightly apart with the bat over his head in his follow through as the ball sailed over the long-on fielder was one of the most enduring images of BPL 2017. Gayle’s relentless assault – a record 146 not out off 69 balls – razed defending champions and pre-tournament favourites Dhaka Dynamites in the title clash. Gayle’s 18 sixes was a methodical assault, which thrilled the packed Mirpur crowd. He cherished his fifth BPL hundred and 20th overall in T20 cricket, calling it one of his best T20 knocks.

“It is a big game, a big occasion to actually stand out and get a century in a final,” Gayle said. “You actually look back and say well done. You tap yourself on the back. It is a winning effort as well, which makes it more special for me. So I am glad that we came out on top. I would put it in the top five [among T20 centuries], certainly for the occasion as well. I will have to reflect where this takes place. It is right up there.” Gayle said that Rangpur Riders looked to bat deep into the innings, especially after they had lost previous match-winner Johnson Charles in the second over. “They (Dhaka Dynamites) started well. We lost Charles a bit early,” Gayle said. “We had to give ourselves a chance to bat as deep as possible. It was important for one of us to bat right through the innings. It actually set the momentum for us.” Gayle said keeping Dhaka’s key bowler Sunil Narine at bay was also part of Rangpur’s plan. “It is a good wicket, once you are set on it,” he said. You can score a bit freely. It wasn’t the best, fully 100 percent batting conditions. They had quality bowlers. We didn’t let their best bowlers get wickets. “Narine is their key bowler. Once you lose Charles early, you play according to the situation, use a bit of experience. Know when to go, when to hold back.” Gayle also credited Brendon McCullum with whom he added an unbroken 201 – the highest stand for any wicket in the BPL. “Turning over the strike was always going to be important. I thought we did a fantastic job – myself and McCullum,” Gayle said. “We worked out what to do in the middle, which bowler to take down, and when.

Published in Daily Times, December 14^th 2017.