Chris Gayle's top three ODI innings as he makes comeback for West Indies

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  • It has been almost 30 months since Chris Gayle last featured for West Indies in an ODI match. On Tuesday though, the 37-year-old will take the field at Old Trafford in Manchester in the first of the five-match ODI series against England.

    Recalled to the 50-over setup for the first time since the ICC World Cup 2015, Gayle has already demonstrated to the hosts just about how dangerous he can still be with bat.

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  • The Jamaican became the first man in the history of T20I cricket to hit a century of sixes in the format after he smacked four towering sixes in his rapid innings of 41 against England in the sole T20I between the two sides at Chester-le-street on Saturday.

    As the Kingston-born man gets ready to make his ODI comeback, we take a look at three of his greatest 50-over innings in a career spanning 269 matches.

    215 vs Zimbabwe – Manuka Oval, Canberra

    February 24, 2015 – ICC World Cup

    Gayle celebrates becoming the first man to hit a World Cup double hundred.

    Gayle celebrates becoming the first man to hit a World Cup double-hundred.

    Gayle had struggled for form heading into the 2015 ICC World Cup with no century to his name in the 20 months prior to the tournament.

    The Jamaican put on a batting display for the ages as minnows Zimbabwe bore the brunt of his ferocious hitting. Gayle became the first man to hit a double-century in the history of the World Cup as he bettered Gary Kirsten’s 188 against the UAE in 1996.

    The left-hander put on a 372-run partnership for the second wicket with Marlon Samuels, a world-record stand for any wicket.

    In total Gayle hit 16 sixes in his innings for his 215 in just 147 deliveries before being dismissed in the last-ball of the West Indies innings.

    They would go on to win the match by 73 runs in the end while Gayle entered the record books.

    133* vs South Africa  – SMS stadium, Jaipur

    November 2, 2006 – ICC Champions Trophy (Semi-final)

    Gayle remained unbeaten to take West Indies to the finals.

    Gayle remained unbeaten to take West Indies to the finals.

    The defending champions of 2004, West Indies were looking to book their spot in their second consecutive Champions Trophy final, but before doing that they had to face the Proteas in the penultimate hurdle.

    The South Africans won the toss and decided to bat first, putting up a score of 258 in their 50 overs.

    The pressure of a huge semi-final notwithstanding, Gayle was in the zone from the very first delivery as he wrested the initiative for West Indies.

    Gayle was unperturbed as his side suffered a mini collapse towards the end of the chase as the left-hander remained unbeaten to guide his team through to the final courtesy a six-wicket victory.

    In the end, the Jamaican hit three sixes and 17 boundaries in his 135-ball 133 which saw him named the Man of the Match.

    132* vs England – Lord’s, London

    July 6, 2004 – Natwest Tri-series

    Gayle showed a completely different approach to his batting.

    Gayle showed a completely different approach to his batting.

    The left-hander has fond memories of England where he produced one of the most mature displays of his long and distinguished career at the Lord’s cricket ground.

    With New Zealand having already confirmed its spot in the finals, the pressure was on West Indies and the hosts in the final group-game in the 2004 Natwest Tri-series in a winner-takes-all scenario.

    Centuries from Andrew Strauss and Andrew Flintoff helped England set a stiff target of 286 for the men from the Caribbean.

    After losing Dwayne Smith early, Gayle put on a 187-run stand with Ramnaresh Sarwan to put the Windies in the ascendancy.

    Even though Sarwan and Brian Lara departed in quick succession, Gayle turned in an uncustomary display as he bid his time at the crease in watchful fashion to take his side home.

    The Kingston man faced 165 deliveries for his unbeaten 132 as West Indies chased down England’s total with seven wickets to spare in the final over of their innings.

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