SOMERSET have re-signed West Indies opener Chris Gayle for this season's NatWest T20 Blast competition.

Gayle - who smashed 328 runs in just three NatWest T20 Blast group matches last season, including 29 sixes and 22 fours – has signed a six-match contract to appear in this seasons competition. 

Gayle is schedule to play against Sussex (a) on June 1, Essex (h) on June 3, Surrey (h) on June 10, Glamorgan (h) on June 15, Gloucestershire (a) on June 17 and Hampshire (h) on June 19.

Director of Cricket Matt Maynard said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured the services of Chris Gayle once again. 

"He is a genuinely world class player and was absolutely phenomenal for us last year.

"He is probably the biggest name in the sport at the moment and his performances in the Big Bash recently have only underlined his status as one of the most explosive players that cricket has ever seen. 

"Taunton was absolutely rocking when he was out in the middle last year and Somerset fans can look forward to more of the same in 2016.”

Chris Gayle said: “I really enjoyed my time at Somerset last year. 

"It’s a great club and the supporters were absolutely incredible. 

"I’m looking forward to seeing the fans again and to scoring some more runs. 

"Hopefully I can help the club make it through to the later stages of the NatWest T20 Blast.”

Somerset CCC CEO Guy Lavender said: “Chris Gayle was outstanding for us last year. 

"Not only did he score a tremendous amount of runs in a way that only he can, he also went out of his way to involve himself in the community projects that we carry out. 

"The master-class that he ran for over 30 of our junior supporters was typical of how he willingly gave his time for free to inspire the next generation of young cricketers.

“Everyone sees the runs that he scores but not everyone will be aware of his willingness to help off the pitch.

"It is these two elements which have maintained our desire to ensure that he would be back with us in 2016."

The 36-year-old blasted a remarkable century on his home debut for the county, smashing 10 fours and 15 sixes in an unbeaten 151 off 62 balls against Kent - but still finished on the losing side.

See the highlights of his innings below: 

The West Indies batsman, 36, was been widely condemned earlier this month, for using a television interview to ask Channel 10 sports reporter Mel McLaughlin for a date, saying: "To see your eyes for the first time is nice. Hopefully we can have a drink afterwards. Don't blush baby."

He has since apologised and was fined £4,900 by club Melbourne Renegades.

Gayle was also criticised by Australian Chris Rogers, who has signed to play for Somerset this coming summer.

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:

CRASH, BANG, WALLOP: Chris Gayle in action against Hampshire                Photo: Alexander Davidson

He finished his brief spell at the County Ground with an astronomical average of 328 after bludgeoning scores of 92, 151no and 85no against Essex, Kent and Hampshire.

The West Indian signed off from this year's Big Bash by equalling the all-time record for the world's quickest Twenty20 half-century.

Gayle smashed his way past 50 from just 12 balls in Melbourne, but it was not enough to keep the Renegades in the competition as they fell to a 27-run defeat against table-topping Adelaide Strikers.

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:

Photo: Harry Trump

West Indies opener Gayle hit seven sixes and two fours on the way to 56 at the top of the order, and joined Yuvraj Singh as scorer of the sprint format's fastest half-century - the India all-rounder's innings at the 2007 World Twenty20 having included six sixes in one over off England's Stuart Broad.

Gayle is already holder of the record for the fastest Twenty20 hundred - from 30 balls - on the way to a mammoth 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013.