Mumbai, March 17: Chris Gayle smashed a century and Shahid Afridi rediscovered his boom with the bat as the veteran destroyers powered the West Indies and Pakistan to victories at the World Twenty20 Wednesday.
Gayle struck 11 sixes at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium in a 47-ball century as the West Indies comfortably chased down England's total of 182 for six with 11 balls remaining in their tournament opener.
Afridi starred with bat and ball as he skippered Pakistan to a comprehensive 55-run victory against Bangladesh in Kolkata, drawing a line under his team's troubled build-up.
Both men had faced some hostile headlines in recent weeks and they revelled in their triumphs, with Gayle saying he had been on a mission to entertain his team-mate Sulieman Benn.
Gayle triggered a firestorm in January when he asked an Australian TV presenter for a date live on air during the Big Bash League.
But in his post-match TV interview after Wednesday's innings, he said his "fantastic" innings was designed to impress his drinking buddy Benn.
"Before I went out Sulieman said you're going to 'entertain me'," said a beaming Gayle after hitting the third fastest international T20 century.
"I wanted to entertain my team-mate -- he's my drinking partner as well."
After his blistering 19-ball 49 helped Pakistan post a commanding total of 201 for five, Afridi took two key wickets in a tidy spell that helped limit Bangladesh to 146 for six from their 20 overs.
A relieved Afridi, accused in some quarters of being a "traitor" for saying he received more "love" from Indian than Pakistani fans, said he was proud to have led by his example.    ?AFP