WATCH | Chris Gayle destroys Jake Ball with four successive sixes

Chris Gayle played another of his signature-innings on Friday, a cameo that  lit up the gloom in the fifth and final one-day international in Southampton.

In a dead rubber, overshadowed by the scandal surrounding England's Ben Stokes, Gayle provided some much needed fireworks but fell soon after.

The West Indies, who have lost 15 of the past 16 completed ODIs against England, initially struggled to make headway under heavy skies following a rain delay, inching to just nine runs after the end of the fourth over.

Gayle then cut loose, hitting 34 runs off just six balls, all delivered by Jake Ball, including four successive sixes, briefly changing the complexion of the game. The first six was the biggest with the ball hitting the top of one of the canopies.

Here are some of the sixes:

Gayle smashes enormous six off Ball https://t.co/IlDbqsZDvL via @ECB_cricket

- Cricket-atti (@cricketatti) September 29, 2017

Gayle hits Ball over cover for six https://t.co/8zmbQqoUTE via @ECB_cricket

- Cricket-atti (@cricketatti) September 29, 2017

Gayle launches another massive six off Ball https://t.co/90l06G6Xk4 via @ECB_cricket

- Cricket-atti (@cricketatti) September 29, 2017

With Gayle threatening to take the contest away from England, debutant Tom Curran produced a slower ball and induced a mis-hit, with Liam Plunkett taking a fine diving catch running backwards.