Star West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer on Saturday, February 7, went past Universe Boss Chris Gayle to score the fastest T20 World Cup half-century for the West Indies, reaching the milestone in just
22 balls, as compared to 23, which Gayle took to score a fifty.
Put in to bat first, Brandon King and captain Shai Hope built a 54-run opening partnership. West Indies soon found themselves at 58/2 in the 10th over, before Hetmyer and Rovman Powell added 81 runs for the third wicket.
On just the second delivery that he faced, Hetmyer smacked Oliver Davidson for a six over long-off. He continued his onslaught over the next few overs and brought up his half-century off Davidson as well, off 22 balls.
Gayle had got to his fifty in 23 deliveries against Australia at the Oval in 2009. Chasing 170, Gayle and Andre Fletcher built a 133-run opening partnership.
Gayle started with two boundaries in the first over, bowled by Brett Lee. He brought up his half-century with a single off James Hopes in the seventh over. Gayle finished his innings with a 50-ball 88 as Windies won the match by seven wickets.
Meanwhile, Hetmyer’s 64-run knock on Saturday took West Indies to 182/5 in their 20 overs. After Powell was dismissed by Brad Currie, Hetmyer and Sherfane Rutherford added 36 runs for the fourth wicket before Hetmyer lost his wicket to Safyaan Sharif, off a brilliant catch by Brandon McMullen.
“It was good and bad because of how hot it was. I don’t know about anyone else, but when I asked the umpire, he said he did not feel it as much. I guess it is just about getting back to playing day-night games,” Hetmyer said while speaking to the broadcasters at the innings break.
Kolkata is now seeing sunny weather, with the temperature around 25 degrees Celsius and it will drop only in the evening.
