Chris Gayle was at his destructive best in a NatWest T20 Blast debut to remember as Somerset claimed a last-ball victory over Essex, but the West Indies star admitted he took his time getting going.
The 35-year-old opener is always one of the big attractions wherever he bats, but after five overs of Somerset's reply on Friday evening he had made just five runs from 17 balls.
However the crowd at Chelmsford eventually got their money's worth as Gayle went on to record a 59-ball 92 which included eight fours and six maximums, an innings which inspired his new side to a dramatic three-wicket win.
"It was not easy at the start because Essex bowled well," Gayle said.
"I had to concentrate on playing myself in and adjust to the pace of the pitch. Once I had done that, I was able to bat with greater freedom and obviously I'm pleased that we managed to squeeze home."
Openers Tom Westley and Jesse Ryder had earlier posted half-centuries but they received little support as Essex were forced to settle for 176 in their 20 overs.
And Somerset eventually limped over the line when Lewis Gregory scrambled a single off the game's final delivery.
Gayle's knock was only the third highest of the night in the South Group.
Dawid Malan posted the second century of the competition as he carried his bat through all 20 overs, scoring 115 from 64 deliveries in Middlesex's 42-run victory against Sussex.
Malan's opening partnership with Paul Stirling accounted for 187 of their side's 221 for two and Kyle Abbott's five for 14 rounded off a dominant win, although Luke Wright joined the '90-club' with a 47-ball 91 in response.
Kent captain Sam Northeast fell four runs short of a first T20 hundred but that disappointment was offset by the Spitfires' 23-run triumph against Surrey.
Northeast faced just 47 balls for his 96 which underpinned his side's 193 for eight.
The North Group had fewer individual high scores but just as much drama.
Birmingham Bears needed all 120 deliveries to chase down Northants Steelbacks' 146 for seven at Wantage Road. Will Porterfield's unbeaten 55 helped the Bears claim a five-wicket win, but only after they scrambled four byes from the game's final delivery.
Durham Jets came out on top against fellow high-flyers Yorkshire Vikings in the Emirates Durham ICG's first game under floodlights, thanks to an unlikely hero. Keaton Jennings, who had taken four wickets in his T20 career prior to Friday, took four for 37 as Durham won by six runs.
Elsewhere, Hashim Amla bowed out at Derbyshire by scoring the game's only half-century in a five-wicket win over Lancashire while Daryl Mitchell overcame a blow to his arm to score 58 in Worcestershire Rapids' six-wicket victory over Leicestershire Foxes.
Source: PA
