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Chris Gayle creates history in CWC 2015
MUMBAI: The Caribbean giant known for his flamboyant hitting of the cricket ball Christopher Henry Gayle has scored the first double century in the history of World Cup cricket. The southpaw hammered Zimbabwe all over the park in Canberra to score 215 of just 147 balls with the help of 16 sixes and 10 fours.
After achieving the milestone the Jamican told Star Sports, “Getting a bit of cramps, feeling a bit tired. We still have 50 overs to get through. I didn’t want to be out with the first ball. I said “you can’t be serious?” I just want to thank god for this knock. I was under pressure to score runs, and I kept getting messages from twitter and on my cell phone. I have never felt this kind of pressure, but in the end, I am sure I gave them something to talk about. It was a bit slow at the start, not to mention keeping it low. I just tried to take the bull by the horns and hang out there and try and build an innings. After a while I was able to pick a bowler to target and then, in the end, I was out off the last ball (chuckles). A lot of time people don’t know what you are going through as I had some issues with injuries. I am also not getting any younger so age is definitely catching up on me. Overall I am really happy, and I just want to try and build on this as much as possible. Want to build on this momentum and move ahead as we look towards the South Africa game. It was a bit easier to bat later on. I am very happy to get this first double hundred and ever since Rohit got two, I have been hounded to get one as well.”
He was well accompanied by Marlon Samuels who scored undefeated 133 runs. The right hand – left hand partnership yielded West Indies 372 runs.
The milestones achieved in the match were:
· Chris Gayle became the first cricketer to score a double century in World Cup history.
· He is also the first Non – Indian to score a double century. Sachin Teldulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma were the only batsmen to reach the milestone before.
· The 372 runs partnership between Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels broke Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid’s 318 runs partnership record to take the pole position in World Cup cricket.
· The Gayle – Samuels partnership (372) also broke Sachin – Dravid’s (331) to register highest partnership in One Day International cricket for any wickets.
· Gayle scored 16 mammoth sixes to equal the record of most sixes in an innings. He shares the record with South African AB de Villiers.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
