Chris Gayle has been at war with West Indies cricket in the past but right now he’s dancing, Gangnam-style.
The Caribbean master-blaster slapped six sixes in a 41-ball innings of 75 as the Windies scored a 74-run win over Australia in Friday night’s World Twenty20 semi-final en route to Sunday night’s final against hosts Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Gayle, who is averaging 54.75 in the tournament, is clearly the key to the match as far as Sri Lanka are concerned.
Similarly Sri Lanka skipper and opener Mahela Jayawardene (210 runs at 42.00) is a huge wicket for the Windies’ bowlers in their bid to unsettle the home side’s top order which includes Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara.
The Windies, once the kings of world cricket, haven’t won an ICC event since the 2004 Champions Trophy. Sri Lanka haven’t done so since the 1996 (50-over) World Cup.
Gayle is drawing inspiration from South Korean rapper PSY for the World T20 final, after dancing and prancing around Premadasa Stadium when the Windies clinched victory in their semi-final against Australia.
Index fingers pointed, hips waggling about, Gayle seemed to have recovered well from his discomfort during his batting innings when he felt winded and was forced to rest briefly on the side of the pitch before continuing.
In Seoul this week, over 80,000 people attended a free concert featuring PSY, singer of YouTube smash Gangnam Style, which features the rapper performing a much-imitated horse-riding dance.
Premadasa Stadium only holds 35,000 but with the twin attractions of seeing the game’s most exciting big hitter and the home team chasing a World T20 title should ensure a full house.
Gayle, who has fellow Jamaican and Olympic sprinting great Usain Bolt tweeting his support, will throw in an extra show of his own if the Windies get up.
“I’ve seen the video a couple of months ago when it came out and there was big talk about it,” Gayle said.
“When I was back home it was on a lot of programs. That’s how I got into it.
“It just happens. It wasn’t really planned.
“That’s me. It depends what type of mood I’m in.
“I’ll just do something crazy and it’s a good dance. Everyone enjoys it.”
Former Test skipper Gayle’s feeling confident about the final and feels there’s no pressure on the Windies.
“But it’s going to be a thriller up against world-class players,” he said.
“Oh definitely we’re going to rock against Sri Lanka.
“We played against them in one of the Super Eight games so we know what to expect.
“The atmosphere, the noise and everything.
“It was really good to get that run against them even though we lost that game.”
