Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Gayle knock left us shell-shocked: Gilchrist

May 07, 2011 12:00 IST

Blown away by Chris Gayle's brutal 49-ball hundred, Kings XI Punjab skipper Adam Gilchrist said the West Indian's knock left his team "shell-shocked" during its 85-run loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore in an Indian Premier League match in Bangalore on Friday.

- Scorecard

Gilchrist described Gayle's match-winning innings of 107 as "a phenomenal knock".

"That was a phenomenal knock. The wicket was doing a bit and he did not get bat on ball for 10 balls. Then he took the game away from us. We were shell-shocked actually," Gilchrist said after KXIP lost by 85 runs.

Gayle hit a record nine sixes and 10 fours in his knock and Gilchrist said his side were thinking of chasing more than 230 when the West Indian was going great guns.

"It is a small ground, there were a few mis-hits from Gayle that carried over. We pulled back a little bit. It looked like they would get 230-240, but it was all too much for us," Gilchrist said.

Chris Gayle"He (Gayle) came back to take lazy three wickets. He has brought a good change for his team. We play again in two days, have got to try and fire up again," said the Australian great.

RCB captain Daniel Vettori said his side dished out a perfect Twenty20 game with Gayle playing the main role.

"Almost the perfect T20 game. It was amazing to score a hundred (by Gayle) in that fashion. The wicket was not an easy one to bat on," Vettori said.

"The big thing for us was our fielding. If we do that, everything falls in place. Gilchrist's run-out first ball made it easier for us. Aravind has been a really good find for us," said the New Zealander.

Man-of-the-match Gayle said he can destroy any side on his day.

"Things will happen when I am out there. I am unpredictable and got to try and enjoy the IPL," he said.

"It was difficult wicket, the ball was doing a lot for a couple of overs. It was a good team effort, Virat (Kohli) came in and supported me.

"The key actually is to pick your areas. It is not all about slogging, you have to target particular bowlers. I wanted to bat through the end but it did not happen. AB de Villiers got us past 200," said Gayle who also took three wickets.

Asked about his amusing style of celebration after taking each KXIP wicket, Gayle said, "My celebration is the tuk-tuk train, that is a regular thing for me."

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.