On Tuesday, Chris Gayle smashed a record-extending 22nd T20 century to help Jamaica Tallawahs to the highest score in CPL history that stood for a couple of hours before St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots broke it.
Gayle hit seven fours and smoked 10 sixes in a 62-ball 116 as Tallawahs posted 241/4 in their 20 overs. After losing his opening partner Glenn Phillips (8) in the fourth over, Gayle stitched a record-breaking 162 run stand with Chadwick Walton – the highest for any wicket in CPL history.
wow! Take a bow Chris Gaᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚꦡᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚyle! A Record 4th CPL 100 for the legend
— CPL T20 (@CPL)
Walton was equally devastating smacking three fours and eight sixes in his 36-ball 73 and was out late in the innings, in the 18th over while Gayle depart🌳e﷽d an over later.
Chasing 242 to win, Patriots’ openers Devon Thomas (71) and Evin Lewis (53) made a flying start in a whirlwind stand of 85 runs in 5.3 overs. Laurie Evans and Fabian Allen extended the superb start before Tallawahs’ pacer Oshane Thomas (4/53) took four wickets in seven deliveries including three in an over triggering a mini-collapse.
Thomas removed Evans (41), Thomas, captain Carlos Brꦫathwaite (0) and Jason Mohammed (0) reducing Patriots from 161/1 to 177/5.
Allen and Shamarh Brooks added 50 runs for the sixth wicket to put them back on track. Allen💝 finished the chase with a six and two fours off🐽 consecutive Andre Russell deliveries as Patriots won their first match of the season with four wickets and seven deliveries to spare.
WHAT A GAME! WHAT A NI𒈔GHT! UNBELIEVABLE SCENES!!
— CPL T20 (@CPL)
Evin Lewis was named match of the match for the fastest half-century (17 balls) in CPL his💦tory. During the post-match press conference, Lewis stated this victory meant a lot to him as his team was chasing a huge score.
“It means a lot to me, chasing 240-odd. I had to execute my skills well today,” Lewis said.
“I had a good start when I went out there. Thought I’d keep it simple trying to chase a big score, just believed in my ability and it paid off.”
“The guys are high on confidence now after coming from a couple of losses in the first couple of games,” he added.
Brief Scores:
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 242/6 (Devon Thomas 71, Evin Lewis 53; Oshane Thomas 4/53) beat Jamai🍬ca Tallawahs 241/4 (Chris Gayle 116, Chadwick Walton 73; Fabian Allen 2/30) by four wickets.