Watch out for Lewis, Gayle says

Chester-le-Street, United Kingdom: Chris Gayle said opening partner Evin Lewis was “one to look out for” after the West Indies duo combined to good effect in a Twenty20 international against England on Saturday.

Gayle’s first match of the West Indies’ tour of England saw the big-hitting opener make a typically rapid 40 before he was run out at Chester-le-Street. The powerful Jamaica left-hander, who did not feature in West Indies’ recent 2-1 Test series loss in England, hit three fours and four sixes in just 21 balls after England captain Eoin Morgan sent the tourists into bat.

The 37-year-old Gayle, in common with several senior West Indies players, had been involved in a bitter dispute with Caribbean cricket chiefs.

But July saw him return to West Indies duty in a Twenty20 international against India in Kingston — his first major match for West Indies since they beat England in the World Twenty20 final in Kolkata last year.

The India match saw Lewis make a superb 125 not out.

Gayle and Lewis, who made 51, put on 77 for the first wicket at a chilly and rainswept Riverside on Saturday. “I’m enjoying batting with Evin,” said Gayle. “He has eased the pressure off me so we can dictate the way we go about it — but he won’t stop! I can slow down a bit but he won’t!”

He added: “Evin is one to look out for in the future too, especially in ODI cricket.”