ICC T20 World Cup 2016: Chris Gayle shrugs off injury, will play in West Indies' game against South Africa
In good news for fans all over the world, West Indies batting superstar Chris Gayle is understood to be fit and available for selection against South Africa, who they play on 25 March, Friday in Nagpur in the ICC T20 World Cup 2016. The left-hander, who suffered a minor twinge in his left hamstring, did not bat during West Indies's seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka, despite padding up to bat and almost walking on to the field before he was restrained by the fourth official.
Speaking to the West Indies Cricket Board media, Gayle had only praise for fellow opener Andre Fletcher's knock against Sri Lanka and also spoke on his second T20 International hundred that he scored against England on 16 March at Mumbai.
"In the second game against Sri Lanka I started, but did not get a chance to bat. But Fletcher came in, played his part and grabbed his opportunity with both hands. He played a fantastic knock and carried right though till the end. And that's the sort of things batters require — once you are set in these kinds of conditions, it is very important to bat as deep as possible and it just makes it easier for the team to chase or set a target, so it's very important to see Fletcher come on board and win Man of the Match, Gayle said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
"I wasn't really thinking about the hundred because if you look at the way we started, after facing the first over, in the second Marlon came in and he actually batted the entire Poweplay. We knew they had two spinners, especially a leg spinner, so being a left-hander it was good to be there in the middle overs, it was crucial. When I got to 96 or something like that, that was the time I said I'll get a hundred."
The men from the Caribbean are on top of the Group 1 points table with four points and require just one win from their next two games to seal a spot in the semi-final. West Indies next face South Africa on 27 March at Nagpur while their final game is against minnows Afghanistan on 27 March.
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