A review of Sunday's action in the NatWest T20 Blast as Chris Gayle's blistering century was not enough to earn Somerset victory against Kent.
Chris Gayle's remarkable century on his home debut for Somerset was in vain as Kent won by three runs in their NatWest t20 Blast South Group encounter at the County Ground.
The 35-year-old West Indian struck 10 fours and 15 sixes in an unbeaten 151 off 62 balls. However, despite an innings that should have been good enough to win any game, Gayle finished on the losing side.
Batting first, Kent lost Joe Denly in the second over, run out by Max Waller to leave them 11 for one. After that, Sam Northeast (114) and Daniel Bell-Drummond (51) put on a wonderful exhibition of batting.
Bell-Drummond, who was dropped on 37 by Craig Overton off Waller, reached his fifty in the 10th over but was snapped up by Lewis Gregory, off Waller, off the very next ball.
Northeast continued to make hay as Somerset bowled too short and wide. He struck 14 fours and two sixes before passing three figures in the 18th over. Having led the home attack a merry-dance for the best part of 17 overs, he was one of four batsmen out in the final over as Kent finished on 227 for seven.
Enter Gayle and co.
The left-hander struck five fours and four sixes in reaching his fifty off 29 balls and continued to make light of a Kent attack that simply had no answer. He put three balls into the River Tone and as many into St James' churchyard.
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James Hildreth departed in the 13th over, for 29, with Somerset still needing 93 to win and Jim Allenby followed off the second ball of the 16th over with 63 still required.
However, Gayle went through three figures off just 45 balls and kept Somerset in with a chance until the penultimate ball. It was the sixth highest individual score in the history of Twenty20 cricket.
In the North Group, a bristling half-century from Riki Wessels and an inspirational debut performance from West Indies international Darren Sammy helped Nottinghamshire Outlaws to a 15-run victory over Durham Jets at Trent Bridge.
Wessels made 67 from 41 balls - including four fours and five maximums - and shared in a 100-run partnership with Samit Patel, who added 46.
Sammy, who joined Notts for a short four-match stint, altered the complexion of the afternoon by removing Calum MacLeod and Paul Collingwood, when both were set, to claim figures of two for 31.
The home side posted a competitive 175 for seven after being invited to bat first with Durham's Usman Arshad returning two for 19 with the ball.
The visitors' response floundered after losing openers Mark Stoneman and Phil Mustard cheaply as they closed on 160 for six with Gordon Muchall finishing on 42 not out - although the Jets never really recovered from Sammy's twin-strike in the 11th over.