The crowd-puller calls shots again

Gayle sets tournament alight

The universal appeal of the ‘Chris Gayle phenomenon’ was once again on show here on a wet Saturday night.

The World T20 — save the Sri Lankan matches in Hambantota — had been thinly attended since the first game between Australia and Ireland exactly a week ago. Even the warm-up match between India and Pakistan, the only practice match that was telecast live, had received no more than a lukewarm response.

Even considering the fact that each match until the Australia-West Indies clash had involved a minnow, rows of empty stands didn’t make for a pretty sight. After all this is the second biggest event in the ICC calendar after the quadrennial 50-over World Cup. The first high-profile match in the Lankan capital, however, forced the crowd to throng the R Premadasa Stadium in large numbers.

The Caribbeans, being the entertainers that they are, are the most popular bunch of cricketers in every part of the cricketing world and most of that adulation on Saturday night was reserved for Gayle. It was reminiscent of the scenes across all venues in India during the Indian Premier League where the big Jamaican is the hottest property.

It’s well established that Gayle’s popularity has been on the ascendency ever since he signed up for the Royal Challengers Bangalore from the fourth season that changed the fortunes of both the franchise and the batsman. Thanks to the lucrative Indian T20 league, Gayle’s six-hitting abilities are well-known now to everyone who cares for the shortest format of the game. The air was thick with expectancy before the left-hander walked in and when he stepped on to the field along with Dwayne Smith, swinging his bat and side-peddling alternatively, the stadium came alive for the first time in a week.

There was a now-familiar circumspection, even tentativeness, at the beginning but that was all too brief. His heart would have been in his mouth when he miscued a hoick but the chance was was floored by Shane Watson. The reaction from the crowd was stunning though. It was hard to make out whether they were thanking the fielder for dropping the catch or celebrating the fact that Gayle was still around. Either way Watson was feeling sheepish.

“I know how much of a difference it makes to everyone in our team to get Chris Gayle out. No doubt I was feeling that pain,” said Watson later. Given a reprieve, the 33-year-old made Australia pay, carting a 33-ball 54 (5x4, 4x6) with each of his strokes emanating oohs and aahs. Watson, however, made up for his mistake by getting Gayle caught and bowled and then did his bit with the bat to ensure an Australian win on Duckworth/Lewis method. But it was clearly Gayle and company who had won the hearts on the night.