Pune: You could forgive Pune Warriors if they scrambled for the panic button upon the mention of May Day. Having suffered the blade of one marauder the previous night, they are bracing for a revisit of even more violent one on Thursday, when they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Subroto Roy Sahara stadium.
Head coach Allan Donald has an unenviable task on hand, that of pepping up his bowlers for another contest ("That's a misnomer," the South African might say aside!) with Chris Gayle and Co.
The former Test bowler knows a thing or two about duelling with the world's best, having crossed swords with the world's best like Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh. He would be the best in business to motivate the Warriors attack.
To be fair, it's the bowling that has been the one positive for the Warriors this season. Still, being ranked at the bottom of the table with just two wins from 10 matches, the sight of the tall left-hander taking guard must open up a few scars for Pune.
Gayle struck the fastest century in T20 with an unbeaten 175, reaching the three-figure mark off just 30 balls, in the first leg at the Chinnaswamy stadium last Tuesday.
For good measure, the 33-year-old from Kingston also took two wickets for just five runs. The 'Gayle effect' could also have another influence on the hosts: they could be committing the grave sin all teams at the receiving end are prone to, planning for one man.
Lest Pune forget, AB de Villiers hit a 12-ball 31, which might have actually cost Gayle an extraordinary T20 double, and Tillakaratne Dilshan made a 36-ball 33.
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