London: Chris Gayle ended up on the losing side despite marking his debut for county side Somerset with a remarkable hundred in their Twenty20 Blast match against Kent on Sunday.
100 for Chris Gayle! What an incredible display from the #WorldBoss. He has faced just 45 balls, 6 fours and 10 sixes! #SOMvKEN
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) May 31, 2015The 35-year-old West Indies left-hander, renowned as one of the most dynamic batsmen in world cricket today, struck 10 fours and 15 sixes as he made a stunning 151 not out off just 62 balls at Taunton's County Ground.
Yet Kent still came away with a three-run win after they defended a total of 227 for seven that featured Sam Northeast's 114. Gayle could only watch as Somerset slumped to 22 for two before the powerful Jamaican smashed three sixes in eight balls.
Fair play to Chris, who spent an hour after the match signing autographs and taking selfies with fans #gayleforce pic.twitter.com/7NfiadKlNc
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) May 31, 2015The big hits kept coming, three balls disappearing out of the ground landing in the nearby River Tone.
We asked earlier how far Gayle could hit it. Well, one of his 6's landed very close to where this photo was taken! pic.twitter.com/k4tNej1fAh
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) May 31, 2015But Australian seamer Mitchell Claydon starred with the ball, the seamer doing well at both ends of the innings on his way to two for 23 in his maximum four overs.
Check out: Win or lose doesn’t matter, Chris Gayle smokes, drinks and makes merry
Somerset coach Matthew Maynard, an aggressive batsman in his playing days said: "I thought Sam Northeast played a sensational innings, but then the world boss came in and it's different gravy. Words can't explain exactly what we have seen today. He makes it looks so easy and strikes the ball so cleanly. His knock almost brought off an incredible win today, but it just wasn't to be," former England international Maynard added.
Thanks to everyone who came and watched today - you have all witnessed the 6th highest all time score in t20 history! pic.twitter.com/BzupGJHg92
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) May 31, 2015Gayle kept Somerset in sight of victory until the penultimate ball and disbelieving Kent skipper Northeast said: "I don't know where to start. It was an incredible game and Chris’ innings was one of the best things I have ever seen. But special credit has to go to our bowlers, who stuck to their plan and kept believing.”
#WORLDBOSS WEEKEND Runs: 243 Balls faced: 121 Fours: 18 Sixes: 21 Average: 243 Strike rate: 200.82 @henrygayle https://t.co/Enc5XEdKeB
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) May 31, 2015"We were trying to get the other batters on strike, but you miss your length against him and it goes out of the park. When the opposition needs 15 an over, you kind of think it's game over. But when Chris is out there and it went up to 20 needed off each over, you still know that he can do it. He is an incredible player," Northeast concluded.
