Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / WEST INDIES
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Cricket Contents:  Future tour dates | England | International Teams | Counties | Women's cricket | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Test Match Special

07:46 GMT, Monday, 19 October 2009 08:46 UK

Lightning Bolt blows over Gayle

The world's fastest man Usain Bolt proved he is a world beater on the cricket pitch when he smashed Chris Gayle for six before clean bowling the West Indies captain in a charity match in Jamaica.

Captaining his Trelawny All Stars XI team, the 100m and 200m world record holder delighted the gathered fans with an impressive all-round display in a 15-over, four-team invitational charity tournament featuring some of the biggest names in West Indies cricket past and present in the coastal town of Discovery Bay.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first against Kingston and St Andrew All-Stars XI, Bolt made 13 from 10 deliveries, an innings that included a straight maximum off compatriot Gayle's off-spin, before he was run out.

However, the triple Olympic champion made more of an impact with the ball, bowling off a long run up and at good pace, greeting big-hitting Gayle's arrival at the crease with a bouncer from his first delivery.

"I told Chris to watch out I was going to give him one but he didn't really believe it," said Bolt, who cites Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis as his childhood hero.

And the 23-year-old brought the crowd to their feet when he castled Gayle's stumps, signalling the direction of the pavilion to his friend for good measure.

"I liked his first delivery to Chris Gayle, short and very surprising"


West Indies great Curtly Ambrose

"I was pretty good as a kid and my cricket coach said I should concentrate on bowling because I was pretty quick running in," added Bolt, who finished with figures of 1-37 after his Trelawny side went down to a two-wicket defeat to Kingston and St Andrew.

"I also used to open the batting for the school team but I haven't batted for a long time.

"The six was a brilliant feeling though. I shouldn't have got out so early but that six was a brilliant shot."

Batsmen Ramnaresh Sarwan and fast bowler Jerome Taylor, part of a group of players to have ended a strike following a pay dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board, were among the gathered celebrities at the Kaiser Sports Club to raise funds for school sports equipment.

And former fast bowling great Curtly Ambrose was impressed with Bolt's bowling performances.

"I liked his first delivery to Chris Gayle, short and very surprising - he's an athlete and he loves cricket and football and obviously he can't fit it all in but he looks good," said the Antiguan, who took 405 Test wickets for the West Indies in a 12-year career.

"He's good with the bat too - after his six I asked him 'where did that come from?' and he said 'it's all coming back now'. He's a good, decent cricketer."

Kingston and St Andrew went on to win the tournament after defeating Jerome Taylor's St Elizabeth All Stars XI in the final.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Windies stars end player boycott (21 Jul 09 |  West Indies )
Windies retain weakened ODI squad (17 Aug 09 |  West Indies )
Windies players hit back in row (15 Jul 09 |  West Indies )
Rain holds up makeshift Windies (09 Jul 09 |  West Indies )
Stunning Jeter run upstages Bolt (13 Sep 09 |  Athletics )
Tired Bolt calls off trip to Asia (11 Sep 09 |  Athletics )
Powell beats Gay in Brussels 100m (04 Sep 09 |  Athletics )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Usain Bolt
Your say on West Indies cricket - 606
BBC Caribbean Service
West Indies Cricket Board
West Indies Players Association
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Cricket Contents:  Future tour dates | England | International Teams | Counties | Women's cricket | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Test Match Special

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©