Dubai, July 3: Big-hitting opener Chris Gayle has vaulted 12 spots into the top five of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 International batting rankings, less than two weeks after returning to the West Indies colours following a two-year exile.

In the latest rankings released on Monday, the 32-year-old Gayle was fourth behind new No.1, England’s Eoin Morgan. The movement for Gayle comes after he plundered half-centuries in both Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand in Florida last weekend.

The left-hander stroked an explosive 85 from 52 balls as the West Indies won the first game by 56 runs on Saturday and followed up with a measured 53 on Sunday as the Caribbean side carved out a convincing 61-run victory.

Only nine days ago, Gayle played his first T20 for the West Indies in two years after ending a stand-off with the West Indies Cricket Board that also saw him barred from Tests and One-Day Internationals. In four innings since his return, the Jamaican has lashed three half-centuries.

In the bowlers’ rankings, captain Darren Sammy is the highest ranked West Indies player at 12th, with England’s Graeme Swann at the top. Agencies