There was a time when scoring 400 in an ODI was considered mythical. A run-rate of eight runs per over in a completed 50-over innings was unheard of. But that South Africa-Australia match in Johannesburg in 2006 changed all that. Ever since, 400 has been breached 19 times (including twice in the said match). So, one doesn’t go bonkers anymore when teams make 350-plus scores in ODIs.
And, not many would have, when West Indies posted 360/8 against England in the first of the five-match series in Barbados. The number of runs, per se, didn’t astound. There were other things that did, though: Chris Gayle’s acceleration (he was 9 off 33 balls and ended up making 129-ball 135 with 12 sixes), Jason Roy’s comeback (he dropped Gayle on 9 but played a match-winning 85-ball 123) and England’s audacity to make chasing 360 look so easy, the innings was a testament to their top-rank in ODIs and their favourites tag for the World Cup.
With Joe Root making 102 after Roy’s seventh ODI ton, they sealed victory with eight balls to spare.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the run-fest at Keningston Oval.
One match, three centuries, 720+ runs - What a delight it was. Congratulations England on the terrific win.#StumpMic #cricket🏏 #sport #trending #t20cricket #ODICricket #TestCricket #cricketfans #lovecricket #cricketlover #cricketers #WIvENG #ChrisGayle #JasonRoy #JoeRoot #PSL4 pic.twitter.com/P59UlEpkHr
— StumpMic Cricket (@stumpmic_) February 21, 2019
There's a reason why he is called THE UNIVERSE BOSS.#ChrisGayle #ENGvWI #1stODI pic.twitter.com/lcPG6zrNIs
— India Fantasy (@india_fantasy) February 21, 2019
Chris Gayle's international 6s:
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) February 20, 2019
479th Six - 111m
480th Six - 108m
481st Six - 121m
The Show is On 😊
The Universe Boss @henrygayle doesn’t get enough credit for what he has achieved as a Batsman ... Many forget he also played 103 Tests ... #WivENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 20, 2019
Oldest players to hit an ODI hundred:
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) February 20, 2019
43y162d Khurram Khan (UAE) v Afg, 2014
39y212d Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) v Ind, 2009
39y152d Chris Gayle (WI) v Eng, Today #WIvENG
Huge six! @henrygayle hits 121m long six to Liam Plunkett#WIvENG pic.twitter.com/L2X1NVLnlm
— Aman Gavaskar (@aman_gavaskar) February 20, 2019
ODI sides successfully chasing targets of 350 or more on most occasions:
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 21, 2019
3 - India
2 - South Africa & England#WIvENG
A tale of two hundreds (all stats at point of 100)
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) February 20, 2019
Chris Gayle
Balls Faced: 100
Attacked: 38% (38)
Defended: 17% (17)
Boundaries: 12% (12)
Dot Balls: 61% (61)
Jason Roy
Balls Faced: 65
Attacked: 52% (34)
Defended: 2% (1)
Boundaries: 23% (15)
Dot Balls: 28% (18)#WIvENG
50 - Jason Roy has reached 50 in 4 of his last 5 ODI knocks for @englandcricket against the Windies; doing so in each of his last 3 such innings. Penchant. #WIvENG pic.twitter.com/u2ZeUIyOIy
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) February 20, 2019
Dropped Gayle on 9 that proved to be very costly but what a comeback from Jason Roy with a 65-ball-100 to repay the debt! 🔥
— M S Krishna Prateek (@mskp_29) February 20, 2019
Already scored the extra 115 runs (Gayle was also dropped on 124) and still going great guns!
#WIvENG #WIvsENG pic.twitter.com/wqHiB9Vg4c
Carlos Brathwaite walks out to bat with Bumble and Bishop on air, and Stokes bowling.
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) February 20, 2019
Bumble: Who's this lad, Bish? I can't remember.
Bishi: .......
Hahaha!#WIvENG
Did that really just happen a NUMBER 10 Bishoo batsmen just switch hit Adil Rashid for 6! How cricket has changed!?!? 🏏 #WIvENG pic.twitter.com/7aOG9nkckN
— James (@Surreycricfan) February 20, 2019