Gayle storms to record-equalling fastest fifty in T20s

The West Indian hit seven sixes and two fours to equal Yuvraj Singh's record

West Indian opener Chris Gayle, on Monday, equalled the record for the fastest fifty in T20s as he smashed 51 off 12 balls in a Big Bash League match.

Gayle came in to bat for the Melbourne Renegades after they were set a target of 171 runs by the Adelaide Strikers in the 32nd match of the league.



In the first over, off Greg West, Gayle hit four maximums to start the chase. He had gathered 26 runs off just six balls at that point.

He scored just two runs in the second over off one ball after losing his opening partner Tom Cooper for naught. However in the third over, Gayle again went for the kill against Ben Laughlin; two sixes and a boundary followed.



Gayle was on 45 off just 11 balls as the fourth over started. The left-hander was served a tossed up, flighted delivery which cleared long-on easily as Gayle raised his bat to acknowledge the record.

He was later caught behind on 56 off 17 balls with Travis Head accounting for him.



Gayle already holds the record for the fastest century in T20s when he scored a ton off only 30 balls for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2013 edition of the Indian Premier League.

Here are some of the reactions from the cricketing world

He's an entertainer that's why he's called the #worldboss and his peers acknowledge he is. https://t.co/z4hGrCCf0D

— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) January 18, 2016

https://twitter.com/NBRACKEN142/status/689066995589890048

Congratulations on record breaking innings @henrygayle 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

— Umar Akmal (@Umar96Akmal) January 18, 2016

@henrygayle I didn't see it but I know the umpires bowlers and fielders must have been scared for their lives #gayleforce @BBL @tensporttv

— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) January 18, 2016

This is ridiculous!! #BoxOffice #BBL05

— Eoin Morgan (@Eoin16) January 18, 2016

Yuvraj's fifty off 12 balls:
0 4 1 4 4 1 6 6 6 6 6 6

Gayle's fifty off 12 balls:
2 0 6 6 6 6 2 6 6 4 1 6 https://t.co/px9YjFBjLf #BBL05

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 18, 2016

Switch on to @SkyCricket. @henrygayle is on fire. 🔥🔥🔥🔥💥💥💥💥 @BBL

— Ravi Bopara (@ravibopara) January 18, 2016

Can someone tell Gayle he gets to head back to Jamaica tomorrow if they don't win?

— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) January 18, 2016

https://twitter.com/TrentWoodhill/status/689031967036190720

Chris Gayle blasts 50 off just 12 balls in #BBL05 now joint-fastest fifty of all time with Yuvraj Singh pic.twitter.com/IBma3haLXD

— Pakistan Cricket 🇵🇰 - Cricket.com.pk (@cricpk) January 18, 2016

Equal fastest T20 fifty EVER! Gayle 51* off 12 balls! Here's how he did it:

2 . 6 6 6 6 2 6 6 4 1 6#BBL05 pic.twitter.com/kkJ5cYRxa1

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 18, 2016