West Indies opener Chris Gayle went out with a bang in the Big Bash League, smashing the equal-fastest 50 in Twenty20 history, but his Melbourne Renegades will not be in the weekend’s finals.
The burly Jamaican equaled Yuvraj Singh’s 50 off 12 deliveries for India against England at the 2007 T20 World Cup in Durban.
Gayle needed a six to reach the record and it was not a problem against the Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s Big Bash League on Monday night.
He slogged four successive sixes in the first over after the Renegades were set a target of 171.
The onslaught carried on in the third over as Gayle belted another 22 to reach 44 from 11 deliveries.
He was finally caught skying a catch off Travis Head on 56 off 17 — the fastest 50 in the BBL’s five-year history.
The previous record was 18 deliveries, first set by Tim Ludeman last season.
Strikers’ coach Jason Gillespie praised Gayle’s blitz in what turned out to be his final BBL game of the season.
“We all know Chris Gayle is an amazing striker of the ball. When he’s on, he’s on,” Gillespie said.
“I’ve seen a number of innings like that. We know he’s a wonderful player,” he said.
Gayle already held the record for the fastest T20 century, needing just 30 deliveries for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013.
The Strikers finished top of the BBL and face the Sydney Thunder in the first semi-final in Adelaide tomorrow.
The Melbourne Stars take on the Perth Scorchers on Friday in the second semi at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, while the Renegades finished in fifth place.
The final is to be played on Sunday and hosted by the highest-placed team.
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