T10: Gayle smashes 84* off 22

After a string of four consecutive single-figure scores, Chris Gayle returned to his destructive best in the Abu Dhabi T10 league, blasting a shot-filled 84 not out off 22 balls to hand Team Abu Dhabi a comfortable nine-wicket win over Maratha Arabians on Wednesday.

Chasing 98, Team Abu Dhabi were given a flying start by Gayle and Ireland opener Paul Stirling, who raced to 47 in 2.2 overs with the latter making 11.

Gayle started the chase with three fours and a six off consecutive balls in Yamin Ahmadzai’s opening over of the innings, before smashing three successive sixes off a Sompal Kami’s over, which yielded 27 runs.

After the dismissal of Stirling in the third over, Gayle brought up his fifty off 12 deliveries and proceeded to dominate an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 53 in 19 balls with Joe Clarke, who made a pedestrian five off six balls.

Gayle struck nine sixes and six fours as Team Abu Dhabi galloped to 100-1 in 5.3 overs. Before this game, Gayle had scores of 4, 5, 9 and 2 in the T10 League.

Earlier, Maratha Arabians made 97-4 with Alishan Sharafu making 33, Mohammad Hafeez 20 and Shoaib Malik 15*. West Indian left-arm Obed McCoy picked up 2-20.