HARARE: West Indies’ all-rounder Chris Gayle Chris Gayle has joined Hashim Amla and Sachin Tendulkar as only the third batsman in the history of ODI cricket to score centuries against 11 different countries, ICC announced on Wednesday.
West Indian star batting all-rounder achieved the milestone during the match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which they won by 60 runs in their opening Group A fixture of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier at the Old Hararians in Harare on Tuesday.
On the other hand it was Shimron Hetmyer who hit his maiden century to contribute strongly in West Indies’s victory.
Gayle clubbed 11 sixes and seven fours in an electrifying 91-ball 123 and Hetymer belted 14 fours and four sixes in a whirlwind 93-ball 127 as the two-time world champions posted 357 for four after electing to bat first.
The UAE, in their turn at the wicket, offered a stiff resistance before going down by 60 runs after finishing at 297 for six.
Rameez Shahzad, the 30-year-old right-handed batsman, showed a lot of courage and grit while scoring an attractive unbeaten 112. It was his second century in 13 ODI’s he played so far, which came off 107 balls and was laced with nine fours and four sixes. He was well supported by Shaiman Anwar (64) and Adnan Mufti (45).
Skipper West Indies, Jason Holder capped a good day for his side after returning figures of 10-1-53-5. Kemar Roach made opener Chirag Suri as his bowling victim, which gave him his 100th wicket in ODI’s.
However, the star of the match was the 38-year-old Gayle, who was in sparkling form and made the ball disappear to all parts of the park at his leisure on a bright and sunny morning in front of 250-odd spectators.
Meanwhile, Gayle pushed UAE captain Rohan Mustafa for a single to mid-off for his 23rd career century, he added the UAE as latest among the countries against whom he has reached three-figures. The other 10 countries to get Gayle’s wrath are Bangladesh, Canada, England, India, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Whereas, South Africa’s Amla has scored his 26 centuries against Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Windies and Zimbabwe in a 164-ODI career and Tendulkar’s 49 ODI centuries were against Australia, Bangladesh, England, Kenya, Namibia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe.
Australia’s Ricky Ponting’s 29 centuries were against 10 countries, while his 30th was against the Asia XI in January 2005.
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