JOIN USMan of the match Gayle’s unbeaten 102 (55b, 10x4, 7x6) was the pillar around which Royal Challengers constructed their chase of 172 and Vettori rated Gayle’s innings as an amazing one. “This is the kind of damage a batsman like Gayle can do.
“We wanted him in our eleven today and he vindicated our decision in a brilliant fashion.
Now, hopefully we can continue to build on this win. It was an amazing innings by Gayle.
He’s a strong man and he can hit the ball quite a distance,” Vettori told newsmen here on Friday after Bangalore’s nine-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders.
Vettori, however, didn’t forget the importance of Gayle’s 123-run partnership with Tillakaratne Dilshan for the opening wicket. “Certainly, that astonishing innings by Gayle was the main feature but that partnership with Dilshan at the top gave us a sound platform from where we were able to go all the way pretty easily,” Vettori said.
The left-arm spinner also reserved a word of praise for Syed Jamaluddin. The left-arm spinner bowled a crucial four-over spell (4-0-20-1) up front when KKR openers Jacques Kallis and Brad Haddin were going great guns.
“It was a really good effort from him. He showed good temperament to come and bowl at that stage and he showed no nerves despite the match being his first one,” he said.
However, the Kiwi singled out bowling as an area that they have to work on. “Zaheer had an off day and I am sure he will hit back soon with the kind of experience that he has. But we could have bowled better and restricted them to a lesser total. We need to have a look at that area at the earliest,” he added.”