ICC World Twenty20: Alex Hales, the storm that blew Sri Lanka away in Chittagong
In a high-scoring ICC World Twenty20 match in Chittagong on Thursday, Alex Hayles became the first England batsman to score a T20 international century.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: March 28, 2014 03:21 PM IST
Alex Hales reignited England's hopes in the ICC World Twenty20 with a blazing century that gutted No. 1 Sri Lanka in a tall-scoring contest in Chittagong on Thursday night. hales (116 not out off 64 balls) became the first English batsman to score a century in T20 internationals as England chased down Lanka's 189 with six wickets and four balls to spare.
The 25-year-old Middlesex batsman had twice -- once out on 99 -- missed a T20I century but on Thursday, he was not to be denied. "I always had the confidence I would get the chance again," he said. "Hundreds don't come around very often in the short format so I'm buzzing I got it today and in a huge fixture for our country," said hales.
The six-foot-five-inch right-handed Hales opened the innings with Michael Lumb but England were off to a horrendous start. They lost two wickets in the first over with nothing on the scoreboard. hales and Eoin Morgan had more than a repair job to do. hales and Morgan produced 152 runs for the third wicket and that was good enough to lift English hopes on an otherwise poor day's cricket by Stuart Broad's team.
"It wasn't an ideal start but we saw by the way they batted it was an excellent wicket and the way Morgy came in straight away and took the game back to them made my job a lot easier," Hales said. "We had plans to stay in the game as long as we could, get a partnership and reassess at the halfway stage. It paid off," said hales, who was dropped on 55 by Mahela Jayawardene.
England are thirsty for success and the win against Sri Lanka will inject a huge dose of confidence in them. "It would be massive for us, we are underdogs in this tournament, playing in the subcontinent historically we haven't gone too well," Hales said. "This win will help us build momentum for the next two games, we've still got to play Holland and SA. I think if we perform to the best of our ability we'll get two wins," said hales.
Following are some statistical highlights of hales' innings:
Hales (116 not out off 64 Balls) has recorded his maiden hundred in T20Is, obliterating the 99 vs West Indies at Nottingham on June 24, 2012.
Hales is the first England batsman to post a hundred in T20Is. Luke Wright had scored an unbeaten 99 against Afghanistan at Colombo's Premadasa Stadium on September 21, 2012.
# Of the top four innings for England in T20Is, three have been registered by Hales.
# Hales is the fifth England batsman to record a hundred at the World Twenty20, joining Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, Suresh Raina and Jayawardene.
# Hales is the third batsman to register a century in successful chases, joining Richard Levi's unbeaten 117 for South Africa vs New Zealand at Hamilton on February 19, 2012 and Martin Guptil's 101 vs South Africa at Hamilton on December 23, 2012. ÂÂ
# Hales and Morgan were involved in a stand of 152 - a third-wicket partnership record in T20Is. This stand is the fourth highest for any wicket - the highest being 170 for the first wicket between Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman for South Africa against England at Centurion on November 15, 2009.
# The aforesaid partnership is the second highest for any wicket at the World T20, next only to the 166 for the second wicket between Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara against West Indies at Bridgetown on May 7, 2010.
# Hales is the only player to figure in two partnerships of 150 or more in T20Is. He had shared a second-wicket stand of 159 with Ravi Bopara against the West Indies at Nottingham on June 24, 2012.
(with inputs from Rajesh Kumar)Alex hales reignited England's hopes in the ICC World Twenty20 with a blazing century that gutted No. 1 Sri Lanka in a tall-scoring contest in Chittagong on Thursday night. hales (116 not out off 64 balls) became the first English batsman to score a century in T20 internationals as England chased down Lanka's 189 with six wickets and four balls to spare.
The 25-year-old Middlesex batsman had twice -- once out on 99 -- missed a T20I century but on Thursday, he was not to be denied. "I always had the confidence I would get the chance again," he said. "Hundreds don't come around very often in the short format so I'm buzzing I got it today and in a huge fixture for our country," said hales.
The six-foot-five-inch right-handed hales opened the innings with Michael Lumb but England were off to a horrendous start. They lost two wickets in the first over with nothing on the scoreboard. hales and Eoin Morgan had more than a repair job to do. hales and Morgan produced 152 runs for the third wicket and that was good enough to lift English hopes on an otherwise poor day's cricket by Stuart Broad's team.
"It wasn't an ideal start but we saw by the way they batted it was an excellent wicket and the way Morgy came in straight away and took the game back to them made my job a lot easier," Hales said. "We had plans to stay in the game as long as we could, get a partnership and reassess at the halfway stage. It paid off," said hales, who was dropped on 55 by Mahela Jayawardene.
England are thirsty for success and the win against Sri Lanka will inject a huge dose of confidence in them. "It would be massive for us, we are underdogs in this tournament, playing in the subcontinent historically we haven't gone too well," Hales said. "This win will help us build momentum for the next two games, we've still got to play Holland and SA. I think if we perform to the best of our ability we'll get two wins," said hales.
Following are some statistical highlights of Hales' innings:
Hales (116 not out off 64 Balls) has recorded his maiden hundred in T20Is, obliterating the 99 vs West Indies at Nottingham on June 24, 2012.
Hales is the first England batsman to post a hundred in T20Is. Luke Wright had scored an unbeaten 99 against Afghanistan at Colombo's Premadasa Stadium on September 21, 2012.
# Of the top four innings for England in T20Is, three have been registered by Hales.
# Hales is the fifth England batsman to record a hundred at the World Twenty20, joining Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, Suresh Raina and Jayawardene.
# Hales is the third batsman to register a century in successful chases, joining Richard Levi's unbeaten 117 for South Africa vs New Zealand at Hamilton on February 19, 2012 and Martin Guptil's 101 vs South Africa at Hamilton on December 23, 2012. ÂÂ
# Hales and Morgan were involved in a stand of 152 - a third-wicket partnership record in T20Is. This stand is the fourth highest for any wicket - the highest being 170 for the first wicket between Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman for South Africa against England at Centurion on November 15, 2009.
# The aforesaid partnership is the second highest for any wicket at the World T20, next only to the 166 for the second wicket between Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara against West Indies at Bridgetown on May 7, 2010.
# Hales is the only player to figure in two partnerships of 150 or more in T20Is. He had shared a second-wicket stand of 159 with Ravi Bopara against the West Indies at Nottingham on June 24, 2012.
(with inputs from Rajesh Kumar)