The success of the Indian Premier League (IPL) gave birth to a worldwide T20 revolution eclipsed by franchise cricket.
While some turned out to blockbusters, financially weaker nations struggled to sustain their domestic leagues. Today, almost all top cricketing countries have their own franchise league.
Since 2013, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has grown leaps and bounds in stature as far as franchise league cricket is concerned.
Globally, the West Indies cricketers have dominated T20 cricket with their presence in all top leagues. Therefore, the annual CPL is bound to be entertaining and full of typical Caribbean flair.
Also, it has proved to be a pedestal for the local Caribbean talents to showcase their potential.
The West Indies-based league has attracted several international stars from all around the globe, improving the quality of cricket in each edition.
Now, before the kick-off of the eighth edition of CPL, let’s have a look at the top five leading run-scorers in the tournament history:
5. Chadwick Walton – 1779 runs
One of the most explosive opening wicket-keeper batsmen from West Indies, Walton impressed with the bat in all seasons of CPL.
Walton has amassed as many as 1779 runs in the 73 matches while representing both Jamaica Tallawahs and Guyana Amazon Warriors.
The right-hander has smashed nine half-centuries in his CPL career, with the best score of 97.
The Jamaican born holds an effective strike-rate of 121.68. He also has an impressive tally of 160 fours and 80 sixes in CPL.
4. Jonathan Charles – 1842 runs
Over the years, hard-hitting opener Jonathan Charles (now Johnson Charles) has been a popular buy for several teams in the CPL. Charles has donned the jersey for every CPL franchise in all seasons.
Charles accumulated 1842 runs in 68 games with a solid strike rate of 130.36. His tally is the fourth most overall in CPL history.
With the best of 94*, the flashy stroke-maker has scored 12 half-centuries thus far in his career. Charles has entertained the crowds with 173 fours and 78 hits over the fence.
3. Andre Fletcher – 1870 runs
Another opener in the list of the top-scorer in the CPL, Fletcher has stockpiled 1870 runs, which is the third-most overall.
The St. Lucia based cricketer has featured in 66 games, where he has notched eleven 50+ scores, with the best of 84*.
Fletcher is renowned for using the powerplay restrictions, thus justifying his boundary count of 148 and 84 hits over the fence.
2. Lendl Simmons – 2080 runs
One of the most underrated T20 batsmen of his era, Lendl Simmons is the second-highest run-scorer in CPL with 2080 runs to his name at a strike-rate of 120.
Simmons has represented Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, St Lucia Stars and Trinbago Knight Riders. He has played 71 games overall.
Further, Simmons has a whopping tally of hitting 168 fours and 105 sixes in CPL. His best CPL score is 97.
1. Chris Gayle – 2354 runs
There’s hardly any list of highest run-scorers in T20 cricket which is complete without its behemoth, Chris Gayle. The ‘Universe Boss’ had won a CPL title with Jamaica Tallawahs before making a move to St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots. A few months back, Gayle was in the headlines due to his sour relationship with the Tallawahs.
The experienced T20 franchise cricket way-farer has dominated the run-scoring charts in the CPL with 2354 runs, which is most by any batsmen in the tournament.
Moreover, the ‘Gayle-storm’ has struck on four occasions in CPL, where he went on to register a three-figure score.
Also, the southpaw has thirteen 50+ scores to his name, along with his monumental boundary count of 334 (172 fours, 162 sixes). Overall, Gayle holds a strike-rate of 133.44 in his CPL career.
However, fans will be disappointed with the absence of the tournament’s leading run-scorer in the eighth season. Gayle pulled out CPL 2020, citing personal issues.
