IPL 2020: Chris Gayle fined for smashing his bat after getting out on 99

Kings XI Punjab’s (KXIP) Chris Gayle has been fined 10 per cent of his match fees for breaching the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) Code of Conduct during the match against the Rajasthan Royals on Friday, October 30 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The veteran got out to fast bowler Jofra Archer in the very last over of Punjab’s innings after scoring 99 runs off 63 balls.

The 41-year-old was unhappy and smashed his bat on the ground in disgust. Nevertheless, while walking off, he had a handshake with Archer, who picked up his second wicket after the one of Mandeep Singh in the very first over of the game.

“Gayle admitted to the Level 1 offence 2.2 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct and accepted the sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding,” the IPL release stated.

Chris Gayle shows his magic

Gayle also became the first batsman to smash as many as 1,000 sixes in his glorious T20 career. His knock on Friday was laced with six fours and eight sixes. He hasn’t flattered to deceive ever since he started playing for KXIP from their eighth game of the season. In six matches, the Jamaican has 276 runs at an average and strike-rate of 46 and 144.50 respectively.

However, his knock against the Royals went in vain as KXIP lost the game by seven wickets. Steve Smith and Co chased 186 down with as many as 15 balls to spare. Nevertheless, courtesy their five-match winning streak earlier on, they are placed fourth in the points table and have a more than decent chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

KXIP are tied with RR and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) with six wins and all the teams have played 13 matches each. KL Rahul’s men’s last league game is against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday, November 1 in Abu Dhabi itself.

If they lose the game, they will be eliminated as the Royals and the Knight Riders have a game each in the first round. Not to rule out the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who are still in with a chance of making the playoffs with five wins from their first 12 games.