Summary:
Chris Gayle's 117-run century in the inaugural T20 World Cup changed the landscape of T20 cricket.
Gayle's explosive innings set the tone for aggressive batting in T20Is.
Despite the format's infancy, Gayle's century demonstrated the possibility and impact of big hitting in T20 cricket.
T20I Cricket has been played since 2005 and it has been 18 years ever since the shortest format of cricket has been played. There have been a total of 131 hundreds that have been scored in T20I internationals. However the first one out of this list was not made for 2 years since the format began. The first century in T20Is was made in the first ever World T20I in 2007 and it was made by the greatest batter of all time in T20I format known as Chris Gayle. It was the first match of the tournament between South Africa vs West Indies.
Let’s talk about that incredible hundred that Chris Gayle Scored in 2007 and changed the format forever
Chris Gayle blasted his way in the record books
It was the first match of the tournament in 2007 and it was between hosts South Africa and West Indies. West Indies were batting first in this match and Chris Gayle was in a mood that day and the South African bowlers were taken to the cleaners. He hit a brilliant 117 runs from just 57 balls at a strike rate of more than 200 in this match. The tournament got off to the perfect start and Chris Gayle showed his wide range of shots in this match. He smashed 7 fours and 10 sixes in this innings meaning 88 runs were scored in boundaries. He loved hitting big sixes and as his hand was so powerful he could just swing the bat and it would go for a six. Chris Gayle showed the world that it is possible to hit a 100 in 20 overs as well.
South Africa had good bowlers such as Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Morne Morkel and yet Chris Gayle hit all of them with such effortless ease. He would hit 22 hundreds in all T20 Cricket which includes all the franchise cricket and that is an all time record. West Indies had made a massive 205 runs on the board in 20 overs and at that time it was considered enough. No other batter in the West Indies team could even make 40, such was the dominance of The Universe Boss. However, South Africa were prepared to battle it out. Herschelle Gibbs played a superb innings of 90 not out from 55 balls and he hit 14 fours and 2 sixes in this match winning performance. He hit 68 runs in boundaries.
Justin Kemp played the perfect supporting role from the other end which Chris Gayle did not have when he was batting. Justin Kemp hit 46 runs in 22 balls at a strike rate of 200+. He smashed 5 fours and 2 sixes meaning 32 runs in boundaries. South Africa won this match by 8 Wickets with 16 balls to spare but the thing that everyone remembers from that match is the first hundred that Chris Gayle hit In the history of T20I internationals. 130 more hundreds have been made in the last 16 years showing that it is not everyday that a batter can hit a hundred in a T20I.
FAQ
Who was the first player to hit a century in T20I?
The first player to hit a century in T20I cricket was Chris Gayle. He achieved this milestone during the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, playing for the West Indies against South Africa in the tournament's opening match.
