Gayle joins Amla, Sachin in elite club

DUBAI: Chris Gayle became only the third player to score centuries against 11 countries as West Indies defeated the UAE by 60 runs in their opening Group A fixture of the World Cup Qualifier at the Old Hararians in Harare on Tuesday.

The first two batsmen to achieve the feat were Hashim Amla and Sachin Tendulkar. Gayle clubbed 11 sixes and seven fours in an electrifying 91-ball 123 and Hetymer belted 14 fours and four sixes in a whirlwind 93-ball 127 as West Indies posted 357 for four.

The UAE offered a stiff resistance before finishing at 297 for six. Gayle reached his half-century from 47 balls with five fours and three sixes. His next 50 runs came off just 32 balls with two fours and five sixes.

When Gayle pushed UAE captain Rohan Mustafa for a single to mid-off for his 23rd century, he added the UAE to the list of countries against whom he has scored hundreds. The other 10 countries had been Bangladesh, Canada, England, India, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.