Cool and classy Chris

Chris Gayle must have been in the West Indies, helping his national team do better against Pakistan. Market forces, and his uneasy relationship with the WICB, prevailed and he ended up in India for the IPL. So far, he has been immensely successful for Bangalore and he proved his value once again, against Pune.

Gayle and Virat Kohli unleashed a rain of sixes that lifted Royal Challengers Bangalore to 181. Gayle set the tempo and Kohli responded later. It helped that Kamran Khan's lengths were straight out of Chris Gayle heaven. He began with a short-of-a-length delivery. Gayle pranced out of his crease and carved through the covers. Kamran went fuller with the third ball, and Gayle launched him over long-off. Kamran promptly dropped short, and Gayle swung him almost onto the roof of the stadium. The next one was too full, and Gayle scythed through the off side. Twenty off the over, and the home crowd was dancing in joy.

Two more quiet overs followed before the carnage resumed against Kamran. The length did not seem to matter anymore, as Gayle just looked to get behind the line and lash at everything. Two length balls were mowed through the leg side, before a very full delivery outside off was knifed over the point boundary, as Bangalore soared to 57 off the Powerplay.

More than the runs he got, it was the manner in which he produced them that left Pune stunned. As always, he moved the front foot out of the way, set up a solid base around leg stump and swung with murderous intent. He repeatedly waved the ball into orbit, giving the crowd stiff necks, while also ensuring they stayed wary of missiles headed their way from his bat.

Gayle had one more crucial part to play in the chase, bowling a nerveless 19th over to kill Pune's surge. Even Robin Uthappa struggled to get under his flat yorkers and the game gradually flitted out of Pune's grasp.