Chris Gayle equals Yuvraj Singh’s record for fastest T20 half century

The West Indies batsman smashed his way past 50 from just 12 balls in Melbourne, but it was not enough to keep the Renegades in the Big Bash as they fell to a 27-run defeat against table-topping Adelaide Strikers.

Chris Gayle of the Melbourne Renegades gives a TV interview to Mel Mclaughlin during the Big Bash League match between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Renegades at Blundstone Arena on JanuaryShow more

Chris Gayle signed off from this year’s Big Bash by equalling the all-time record for the world’s quickest Twenty20 half-century.

Gayle smashed his way past 50 from just 12 balls in Melbourne, but it was not enough to keep the Renegades in the competition as they fell to a 27-run defeat against table-topping Adelaide Strikers.

Read more:

West Indies opener Gayle hit seven sixes and two fours on the way to 56 at the top of the order, and joined Yuvraj Singh as scorer of the sprint format's fastest half-century, the India all-rounder's innings at the 2007 World Twenty20 having included six sixes in one over off England's Stuart Broad.

Opening batsman Gayle plundered 21-year-old Adelaide Strikers bowler Greg West, playing his second T20 match, for 27 runs in the first over and hit the last four deliveries for six.

His seventh maximum took Gayle past his half-century as he deposited spinner Travis Head over the long-on boundary.

Head dismissed him five deliveries later for a 17-ball 56 with Gayle caught by wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman from a top edge.

Gayle is already holder of the record for the fastest Twenty20 hundred, off just 30 balls, on the way to a mammoth 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013.

Following his controversial remarks in a Channel 10 interview during a Big Bash match two weeks ago, this time Gayle chose to stay off mic.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport