At the halfway point of England’s opening World Twenty20 game against the West Indies, it looked touch and go as to whether they’d amassed enough runs.
A total of 182 for six felt 20 or so short, but as the old adage goes, you’d rather have the runs on the board.
Then Chris Gayle started batting.
Oh Gayle is going for it. Our total seems very low all of a sudden… #T20WorldCup
— Hannah Griffin (@hbridget17) March 16, 2016
It quickly became clear England were indeed 20 runs short – and then some.
Would have to get 300 to defend this with our pace bowling attack #ENGvWI
— michael hartwell (@mickelh4) March 16, 2016
And it’s true, England’s bowling was all over the place – but mostly it was down to Christopher Henry Gayle, self-proclaimed “Universe Boss” and the undoubted colossus of Twenty20 cricket.
He scored an unbeaten 100 off 48 balls as his side chased down their target with 11 balls to spare, and the world just sat back and admired it – much as England’s bowlers did.
Gayle – the Bradman of T20. #GOAT
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) March 16, 2016
We're watching greatness. It is what it is.
— Rory Dollard (@thervd) March 16, 2016
Chris Gayle has brought this #WorldT20 alive. Quite something else!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 16, 2016
Well played.It was a treat to watch hard hitting 100 of Chris Gayle in #T20WorldCup #WestIndiesVSEngland
— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirGEO) March 16, 2016
This @henrygayle is some entertainer …. Absolute #BoxOffice …. #ICCWT20
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 16, 2016
There was one alternative theory…
Chris Gayle's bat is on meldonium.
— Alt Cricket (@AltCricket) March 16, 2016
Some drew comparisons with England.
Chris Gayle currently destroying England. He's a year older than Kevin Pietersen. #T20WorldCup
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 16, 2016
Some people were just glad it wasn’t them.
3 things I'd rather do than bowl at Gayle:
1) Stand on a plug barefoot
2) Have dinner with Miley Cyrus
3) Get run over #nothanks
If England are feeling low, there is at least one thing they can cite in mitigation – Gayle is just phenomenally good at T20 cricket.
That is Chris Gayle's 17th T20 hundred. A record. He now has 10 more than his closest rival – BMac
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) March 16, 2016
And the whole thing ended without him embarrassing himself in the post-match interview.
Bet Chris Gayle doesn't ask Nick Knight out for a drink
— Derek Pringle (@derekpringle) March 16, 2016
So everyone’s happy. Except England.
NEWS: English bowlers file harassment claim against Chris Gayle. pic.twitter.com/iWdDbYknxJ
— Alt Cricket (@AltCricket) March 16, 2016