Chris Gayle Overtakes Brian Lara As West Indies' Highest Run-Scorer In ODIs

India posted a stiff target of 279 runs batting first in the second ODI against West India at Port of Spain in Trinidad. West Indies will want a herculean effort from the star opener Chris Gayle to give them a 1-0 lead in the series. Meanwhile, Gayle scaled another massive record after being the first West Indies cricketer to play 300 ODIs.

West Indies got off to a solid start and will bank on their openers – Gayle and Evin Lewis to keep on the excellent job to help them chase down the target. The host will want to take the crucial lead in the three-match series after the first ODI was a washout at the Province Stadium in Guyana.

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Chris Gayle leapfrogged legend Brian Lara (10348 runs) to become the highest run-scorer for West Indies in the ODIs. Gayle needed only six runs to overtake Lara as he reached the milestone convincingly during the second ODI. He is only the second cricketer after Lara to score 10000 ODI runs for West Indies.

Gayle took 297 matches to reach the milestone, two more than that of the former cricketer. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (8778), Desmond Haynes (8648) and legendary batsman Viv Richards (6721) complete the top five.

Also read: Chris Gayle Achieves Massive Milestone During the Second ODI

Speaking about India’s innings, the Men in Blues didn’t get the finish they wanted. They were 15-20 runs short as West Indies bowlers bowled short deliveries making it tough for the Indian batsmen. The visitors though, still have 280 to play with, and that was possible because of the Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer partnership.

Kohli brought up his 42nd ODI ton whereas Iyer crafted a neat and swift 71 run knock to strengthen his claim for a regular spot in the middle-order. But the wickets of these two men slowed the proceedings considerably with Carlos Brathwaite picking wickets at regular intervals.