Barisal Burners batsman Chris Gayle has continued his prolific run in Twenty20 cricket by making his way to the top of the run chart in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Gayle, who was signed to the new franchise for $551,000 last month, has tallied 288 runs in five innings, ahead of Chittangong Kings' Nasir Jamshed (261) and Dhaka Gladiators' Imran Nazir (174). The Jamaican also leads the tournament in averages (96.00), strike rates (187.01) and sixes (26). No other player has cleared the boundary more than nine times. Khulna Royal Bengals' Dwayne Smith (151 runs, Ave: 75.50, SR: 133.62) and Dhaka Gladiators' Kieron Pollard (141 runs, Ave: 70.50, SR: 148.42) have also been among the top run-getters, ranking fifth and sixth respectively, while Duronto Rajshahi's Marlon Samuels (126 runs, Ave: 25.20, SR: 123.52) is in ninth.
Samuels has also been useful with the ball with five wickets at an average of 26.20 (Econ: 6.55). Meanwhile, Khulna Royal Bengals' Andre Russell (Ave: 20.66) and Chittagong Kings' Dwayne Bravo (Ave: 26.16) are tied for second place among wicket-takers, having nabbed six victims each. Both players have been relatively expensive though, conceding 8.85 and 8.72 runs per over respectively. Chittagong Kings's Kevon Cooper has three scalps at 30.0 apiece (Econ: 7.50). (NC)
