Chris Gayle has proven a controversial figure during this season's Big Bash, but he let his cricket do the talking on Monday night; he blasted his way past 50 in just 12 deliveries, bringing up the milestone with a monster six off the bowling of Travis Head.

He clubbed seven sixes and one four in lightning-quick time, as the Melbourne Renegades looked to secure a spot in the finals series by chasing down the 170 posted by the Adelaide Strikers.

The first over saw the majority of the fireworks, with young quick Greg West being hit for four straight sixes off the final four balls of his first over.

Of the seven maximums, the pick of the lot was surely an almighty blow over deep mid-wicket, after bowler Ben Laughlin dug one in short following a free-hit (which was also blasted for six).

Sadly for the crowd and for Melbourne's finals hopes, the innings soon came to an end - caught off the bowling of Head for 56, from 17 balls. It was Head's third scalp of the night, recovering brilliantly from that first-ball six by bowling both Cameron White and Dwayne Bravo in consecutive balls, before nabbing the main man in his next over.

Gayle's ball-by-ball: wide, 2, 0, 6, 6, 6, 6, 2, 6nb, 6, 4, 1, 6, 1, 0, 4, 1, 0, out

Gayle's phenomenal striking was ultimately in vain, as his Renegades fell 27 runs short of their target of 171 within 16 overs against the top-placed Strikers, as they were bowled out for 143 in that deciding over.