West Indies opener Chris Gayle has set a new record for the fastest century in the history of professional cricket, playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) against Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League (IPL) today Tuesday.
Gayle smashed an astonishing ton off just 30 balls, battering the Pune Warriors bowling attack in an innings that included seven dot balls, four singles, eight fours and 11 sixes at the Chinna-swamy Stadium, Bangalore.
His ruthless attack on the Pune bowling was in a category, completely different from what has been a hit-and-miss IPL in 2013, with low scores, except for an 85 off 50 balls and a 92 off 58 balls.
The 31 year old Gayle, got to his century with a free-hit from medium-pacer Ashok Dinda which went crashing into the roof of the M. Chinna-swamy stadium.
Gayle, who now has a staggering 11 centuries in T20 cricket, said it was just one of those days, he went berserk and it just paid off.
The West Indian’s 30-ball ton, erases the previous 34-ball T20 record, set by Australia’s Andrew Symonds.
The record in 50-over cricket is Shahid Afridi’s 37-ball ton for Pakistan against Sri Lanka in 1996 while the Test record belongs to Gayle’s fellow West Indian Sir Viv Richards, who flayed England for a 56-ball 100 in Antigua in 1986.
The Jamaican batsman finished with a world record score of 175 not out, which included 13 fours and 17 sixes from 66 balls.
RCB finished on 263 for five from 20 overs to break Sri Lanka’s record of 260-6 against Kenya in the 2007 World Twenty20.
Pune Warriors, who chose to field, were chasing 264 for victory.
