Gayle first to hit six off opening Test ball

Published on 14/11/2012 01:48

West Indies opener Chris Gayle became the first player ever to hit a six from the first ball of a Test match when he launched the ball over the ropes against Bangladesh, the International Cricket Council has confirmed.

Gayle smashed debutant Sohag Gazi over long-on to 
earn the honour of being the first player to achieve the 
feat since the first officially recognised Test match, which 
commenced on 15 March, 1877, was contested by England and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

He went on to take 18 off Gazi in the first over but the 21-year-old off-spinner got revenge by having Gayle caught for 24 as West Indies reached 361-4 after the first day of the first Test in Mirpur. Kieran Powell and Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit centuries, with with the latter unbeaten on 123 alongside Denesh Ramdin (52 not out), having completed his 26th Test century. Powell was earlier out for 117 after 
Bangladesh had put West Indies in a spot of trouble with 
three wickets in the morning.

Left-hander Powell, making his second century, added 125 runs with Chanderpaul for the 
fourth wicket as the duo 
batted out the second session to restore order for West Indies, who won the toss and elected to bat.

“I think we definitely won this day,” said Powell. “Two guys 
getting centuries, 350 on the board and only four wickets down, it is a commanding position to press on for a good total.

“Generally we look at 400 in the first innings, but from this position, 500-plus should be a good total.”

The home side opened the bowling with Gazi, who was greeted by Gayle with a big six off his very first delivery.

Gayle then rubbed salt in his rival’s wounds by hitting him for 
another six in the fourth ball.

But Gazi had the last laugh when he took the wicket of the left-hander in the fifth over. Mahmudullah took the catch at long-off as Gayle mistimed 
his stroke off a flighted delivery to depart for 24.