Gayle shines with 53 on IPL return

Sharjah – Veteran batting star Chris Gayle slammed a half-century in his first appearance in the Indian Premier League this season but his West Indies protégé, Nicholas Pooran, was the hero, belting the final delivery of the game for a straight  six to hand Kings XI Punjab a dramatic victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore here yesterday.

Only days following a brief hospitalisation for food poisoning, the 41-year-old left-hander returned to entertain at Sharjah Cricket Stadium with 53 off 45 balls as Kings XI chased down 172 to win by eight wickets off the final ball.

Starting the final over requiring only two runs to win, Gayle was kept scoreless off the first two deliveries from leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal before getting a single off the third. (CMC)

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