Going through South Africa on September 11, 2007, in Johannesburg, Gayle unleashed a shocking show of power-hitting, blasting 117 off simply 57 balls.
His explosive innings featured 7 fours and 10 towering sixes, demonstrating the uncooked energy and aggression that made him one of the feared batsmen in T20 cricket.
At a time when T20 cricket was nonetheless evolving, Gayle’s century set the usual for the format’s future.
Opening for the West Indies, he took on the South African bowlers from the outset, propelling his staff to a aggressive complete of 205/6 of their 20 overs on the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
AFP Photograph
Nonetheless, regardless of Gayle’s particular person brilliance, South Africa mounted a robust response within the chase.
Herschelle Gibbs anchored the innings with an excellent 90* off 55 balls, studded with 14 fours and a couple of sixes, main South Africa to an 8-wicket victory with 14 balls to spare.
Though West Indies misplaced, Gayle’s century earned him the Man of the Match award.
In his T20I profession, Gayle performed 79 matches, amassing 1,899 runs at a median of 27.92 and a strike price of 137.50, together with 124 sixes.