Lions hoping Gayle can solve top order problems

Johannesburg, Nov 1 (IANS/CMC) Highveld Lions are hoping Chris Gayle's explosive batting at the top of the order can be the catalyst to their success in the upcoming Ram Slam Twenty20 League which bowls off here Sunday.

The West Indies left-hander is one of five Caribbean players who will campaign in the South African domestic competition, and a lot will be expected from him when the Lions face Dolphins in their opening game, reports CMC.

"He's a match-winner - we've seen him in the IPL and playing for the West Indies," coach Geoffrey Toyana said of Gayle.

"If he gets in and gets going we are going to have some fun."

Gayle is one of the most sought after T20 batsmen in the world and has played in most of the competitions popping up across the globe.

A clean hitter of the ball, Gayle has plundered T20 hundreds in every league in which he has played, and also has the ability bat deep into the innings.

With the Lions having struggled with sound partnerships at the top of the order, Toyana hopes Gayle can help to address this deficiency.

"If he can come through for us then he can give us the sort of starts that we're looking for because in this format it's all about how you start and we didn't start well last year."

Dolphins have on their roster West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo but he is expected to miss Sunday's opener.

--IANS/CMC

sr/rd