Credit: IML 2025
In the fifth encounter of the International Masters League (IML) 2025, Chris Gayle showcased his batting mettle for West Indies Masters against England Masters at the DY Patil Stadium. At the toss, England Masters got lucky as their skipper Eoin Morgan emerged victorious and invited the Windies side to bat first. Gayle grabbed the opportunity with both hands along his opening ally Dwayne Smith. The pair stitched a 77-run stand in just 42 balls and handed momentum to their side.
Gayle looked in sensational touch with his bat and scored rapid 39 off just 19. His innings was studded with seven boundaries which included three fours and four maximums. In the third over of the game, Gayle confronted Ryan Sidebottom with valiance and clobbered a couple of maximums on back-to-back deliveries. On the third delivery of Sidebottom’s second over, the southpaw hit a six over deep cover.
The hit gave confidence to the 45-year-old as he mercilessly thrashed the speedster this time over the deep mid-wicket to rack up another six. In the eighth over of the match, Gayle followed Smith to the pavilion after falling against leg-spinner Chris Schofield. Gayle’s extraordinary knock along with Smith’s 35 off 25 helped West Indies Masters to post a total of 179/6 in their 20 overs.
England Masters get rapid start
England Masters looked shaken at the start of the chase after losing Ian Bell in the second over of the innings. However, Phil Mustard flexed his muscle and produced some elegant strokes from his bat to help his team get a fine start. Mustard’s 31-run knock off 19 included six fours and a maximum.
On the last delivery of the fifth over, Mustard lost his wicket while attacking Ravi Rampaul. As of writing, England Masters are 61/2 in 6.3 overs with captain Morgan batting at an unbeaten score of 22 off 13 and Tim Ambrose at his unbeaten three off five. Rampaul and Jerome Taylor have bagged one wicket each.
