St. Elizabeth’s is known as a cricket-loving community and a large number of sports fans turned out to see two of the legends of the West Indian game, Brian Lara and Chris Gayle, once again showcase their talents at the Treasure Beach Sports Complex in St. Elizabeth.
Batting first, Gayle’s XI scored 156 runs for the loss of 6 wickets at the end of their allotted 20 overs and the ‘Universe Boss’ himself was the highest scorer with 52 runs off 37 balls. Besides, Gayle’s nephew Ricardo McGleachy scored 34 off 17 balls and Damion Ebanks scored 22.
While bowling, Howard Powell and Nehemiah Perry took a wicket each and Chrismer Santoki managed to take 2 wickets for 26 runs.
In reply, Lara’s XI scored 145 for 4 in 20 overs with Wavell Hinds scoring 43 off 46 balls, Lara 32 and Delroy Morgan 23.
When it was all over, Gayle’s XI won by 11 runs against Lara’s XI, but over 5,000 fans got a glimpse of batting maestro Lara and the Universe Boss.
The 43-year-old former West Indies captain said he plans to continue playing franchise cricket on a global scale.
“I haven’t announced anything [about retirement] as yet, to be honest with you. From an international point of view, that [playing for West Indies again] is not possible,” Gayle told journalists after an exhibition game featuring him and fellow West Indies great Brian Lara at Treasure Beach Sports Park on Sunday.
“I wanted that one final game at Sabina Park… but I don’t see that happening at any particular time now,” he said.
“I’m still looking to play franchise cricket later down in the year, so I’m taking it in stride. I ventured into music as well, started my record label Triple Century Record and I’m in the business side as well.
“This year, yes, I’d love to play some more cricket. It’s just to select when I get the time because I’m pretty much at the end [of my career], and I have other things to do as well, [get] back in the music studio…put out more music and have some fun while doing it as well,” Gayle explained.
Before his Test cricket career ended prematurely in 2014, Gayle, who made his debut in 2000, scored 7,214 runs at an average of 42.18.
He Scored 15 centuries, including a highest score of 333 and took 73 Test wickets, highlighted by a best of 5-34.
In One Day Internationals Gayle scored 10,450 runs at 37.88 in 301 matches.
In T20 international cricket he won World Cup titles with West Indies in 2012 and 2016.