On this Day: Chris Gayle scored first-ever century in T20 World Cup in 2007

Former West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle is popular for his fierce batting and ability to hit long sixes during his cricketing career. He is among the best hitter in T20 cricket and has played many iconic knocks in the shortest of the game. Gayle has also scored the first-ever century in the history of the T20 World Cup.  During the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, 27-year-old Chris Gayle showed his beast mode in a match against the hosts South Africa in Johannesburg on September 11. 

Although West Indies couldn’t win that match, Chris Gayle became the first player in the history to score a century in the T20 World Cup.  With West Indies batting first against South Africa, Chris Gayle opened the innings with Devon Smith as both the openers added 145 runs for the first wicket in 13.3 overs. Gayle went on to smash a century in 50 balls.  

chris gayle t20 world cup

The left-hander got out after scoring 117 runs in 57 balls with the help of seven fours and 10 sixes at a strike rate of 205.26. With the help of his knock, West Indies 205/6 in their 20 overs. However, it wasn’t enough as the Proteas chased the target in just 1.7.4 overs losing two wickets with Herschelle Gibbs smashing 90*(55) runs. 

Chris Gayle scored most centuries in T20 World Cup

Chris Gayle also boasts the record for scoring most centuries in the history of the T20 World Cup. Nine years after his maiden century during the 2007 T20 World Cup, he went on to score another ton during the 2016 T20 World Cup. In the match against England at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 16, Gayle smashed an unbeaten 100*(48) runs as West Indies won the match by six wickets. With this, Chris Gayle also scored the fastest century in the T20 World Cup history as he reached the triple figure mark in just 47 balls. 

chris gayle t20 world cup century list

Till now, total 11 centuries have been scored in 17 years of the T20 World Cup. Out of which, Chris Gayle has scored most centuries in the tournament’s history. Apart from that, batters like Suresh Raina, Mahela Jayawardene, Brenden McCullum, Alex Hales, Ahmed Shehzad, Tamim Iqbal, Jos Buttler, Rilee Rossouw, and Glenn Phillips have also a century to their name in the T20 World Cup.

List of Centuries in the T20 World Cup

Player

Runs

Balls

4s

6s

SR

Opposition

Ground

Match Date

CH Gayle (WI)

117

57

7

10

205.26

v South Africa

Johannesburg

11 Sep 2007

SK Raina (IND)

101

60

9

5

168.33

v South Africa

Gros Islet

02 May 2010

DPMD Jayawardene (SL)

100

64

10

4

156.25

v Zimbabwe

Providence

03 May 2010

BB McCullum (NZ)

123

58

11

7

212.06

v Bangladesh

Pallekele

21 Sep 2012

AD Hales (ENG)

116

64

11

6

181.25

v Sri Lanka

Chattogram

27 Mar 2014

Ahmed Shehzad (PAK)

111

62

10

5

179.03

v Bangladesh

Mirpur

30 Mar 2014

Tamim Iqbal (BAN)

103

63

10

5

163.49

v Oman

Dharam s ala

13 Mar 2016

CH Gayle (WI)

100

48

5

11

208.33

v England

Wankhede

16 Mar 2016

JC Buttler (ENG)

101

67

6

6

150.74

v Sri Lanka

Sharjah

01 Nov 2021

RR Rossouw (SA)

109

56

7

8

194.64

v Bangladesh

Sydney

27 Oct 2022

GD Phillips (NZ)

104

64

10

4

162.50

v Sri Lanka

Sydney

29 Oct 2022

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