Happy Birthday Chris Gayle: Five occasions when 'Universe Boss' left bowlers in tears

Chris Gayle - When he is not busy partying hard off the field, the swashbuckling left-hander leaves even the best bowlers in tears while playing cricket across formats.

New Delhi: Some call him the six-hitting machine. Some call him the most dangerous batsman in limited-overs cricket. But Chris Gayle defines himself as "The Universe Boss."

The Universe Boss turns 37 today.

When he is not busy partying hard off the field, the swashbuckling left-hander leaves even the best bowlers in tears while playing cricket across formats.

On his 37th birthday, here are top five knocks played by Gayle:

215 off 147 balls against Zimbabwe (ICC World Cup 2015)

Cricket fans witnessed several blistering knocks in ICC World Cup 2015 hosted by Australia and New Zealand. But Gayle's double ton stole the show as it came at an unbelievable strike-rate of 146. After Dwayne Smith was dismissed off the second ball of the innings, Gayle and Marlon Samuels sent the fielders on a leather hunt as they stitched an unbeaten 372 runs for the second-wicket partnership.

117 off 57 balls vs South Africa (ICC World Twenty20 2007)

The Jamaican batsman set the ICC World Twenty20 2007 on fire as he hammered a ton in the first match of the tournament. Gayle tonked South African bowlers all over the ground on his way to a stupendous ton. It was his first T20 century as well.

175 vs Pune Warriors (Indian Premier League 2013)

Chris Gayle also holds the record for the highest individual score in T20s. He achieved the feat in the Indian Premier League, where he smashed unbeaten 175 against the now defunct Pune Warriors franchise in 2013.

317 vs South Africa (4th Test, Antigua, 2005)

While Chris Gayle had already scored a double ton in Tests along with five centuries, he added another feather to his cap with his first ever triple ton in Tests. Even though it was scored at home, the knock was special considering it came against a quality South African bowling line-up comprising Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and Jacques Kallis.

333 vs Sri Lanka (1st Test, Galle International Stadium, 2010)

Gayle had already stamped his authority as one of the greatest in limited-overs cricket. But those who labelled him as a one-day specialist, were forced to eat their words as he slammed his second triple ton. Since it came away from home, the knock was a memorable one. It remains his highest score in Tests till date.