Gayle's 51-ball 126* eliminates Khulna
The West Indian smashed almost 75% of his team's runs as Rangpur Riders secured their spot in the second qualifier in BPL 2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Opener Nazmul Hossain Shanto kickstarted the innings with three fours in eight balls before falling to an unnecessary hoick against Sohag Gazi in the fourth over. Afif Hossain drove his first ball over cover for four and slapped a six four balls later,but was bowled by Malinga in the following over.
The bowlers built on the early wickets and did not concede a single boundary from Mahmudullah's dismissal in the seventh over to the 11th over. Klinger broke the shackles when he cut Bopara between point and third man in the next over. Two balls later, however, Bopara's superb yorker castled Klinger for 21 off 26 balls.
Nicholas Pooran and Ariful Haque then added 40 for the fifth wicket at a run rate of eight to perk up the side. The stand ended when Ariful fell in the 17th over for 29. Ariful had a life in the 14th over when both Mashrafe and the bowler Bopara let a skier fall between them at mid-off, but he failed to cash in.
Gayle teed off with a brace of sixes but Jofra Archer removed Gazi and Brendon McCullum in the third over to leave Rangpur at 25 for 2. From thereon, it was the Gayle show.
Gayle was severe on Archer, taking him for 20 runs in the fifth over, including a straight six. Abu Jayed was also hit down the ground in the next over before Mohammad Irfan's legbreaks were deposited for two sixes in the seventh over - the first of which brought up a fifty off 23 balls. Gayle did not spare his West Indies team-mate Brathwaite too as Rangpur surged towards the target.
"I think it is called the Gayle storm. To be honest, he batted outstandingly. We didn't bowl well up front, because we know about his power and capability."
Khulna captain Mahmudullah
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84