Chris Gayle plundered 84 runs from 22 balls as Team Abu Dhabi defeated Maratha Arabians by nine wickets in the Abu Dhabi T10 earlier today.

The 41-year-old Gayle achieved a strike rate of 381.82, smashing six fours and nine sixes in a brutal onslaught on the Arabians bowling that powered TAD, chasing 98 for victory, to 100 for 1 off just 5.3 overs.

The Universe Boss signalled his intent from as early as the first over bowled by Yamin Ahmadzai that went for 18 runs. It was his only over of the match.

In fact, none of the Arabians bowlers got more than one over in as Gayle unleashed his special brand of carnage.

Twenty-seven runs came off Sampal Kami’s over. Paul Stirling hit consecutive fours from his first two balls before a single off the third turned him over to Gayle, who then hit him for three consecutive sixes.

Mossaddek Hossain bowled the third over and after conceding two runs from his first delivery, then had Stirling caught at cow corner for 11 when the score was 47. Unfortunately, for him, the batsman crossed while the ball was in the air putting Mossaddek squarely in the crosshairs of the Universe Boss, whose 50 came up from just 12 balls.

His next four balls went for 20 runs – 4, 6, 4, 6 – as the early promise was cut to shreds by Gayle’s blade.

In the over that followed, Maroof Merchant’s conceded three runs from the first four balls before it was spoiled by consecutive sixes from Gayle.

Ishan Malhotra bowled the fifth over and only conceded 10 runs with one four coming from Gayle’s bat.

Mercifully, the nightmare ended for Maratha Arabians mid-way the sixth over when Gayle slogged Mutkar Ali over midwicket for his ninth six.

Joe Clarke was unbeaten on 5 at the end.

Earlier, Obed McKoy 2 for 20 helped restrict Maratha Arabians to 97 for 4. Alishan Sharafu was their leading scorer with 33 from 23 balls. Mohammed Hafeez (20) and Shoaib Malik 15* helped push the score along but were stymied by the bowling of Tom Helm, whose two overs only cost eight runs.

Jamie Overton and Naveen-ul-Haq each took 1 for 21 from their respective quotas.