Epic knock of 333 by Gayle

Mendis’ strikes later for six wicket haul :

Chris DHAMBARAGE reporting from Galle

Dynamic opening batsman Chris Gayle missed out a unique World batting record as the touring West Indies team continued their dominance over Sri Lanka on day two of the opening Test match which continued at the Galle International Stadium yesterday.

On a day of high drama where several batting records were shattered Chris Gayle stood firm and solid at the crease as he reached an epic 333 which helped the West Indies to score a massive 580 for 9 in their first innings.

Chris Gayle in full cry during his record breaking innings. AFP

Ajantha Mendis delivers the ball during the second day of the first Test match between Sri Lanka and West Indies at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle. Mendis went on to claim six wickets for 169. AFP

Sri Lanka in reply lost opener Tillekeratne Dilshan in the second over of the innings before skipper Kumar Sangakkara joined Tharanga Paranavithana to reach 54 for 1 when bad light halted play early.

Left hander Sangakkara during his unbeaten knock of 33 went past Garry Sobers’ career aggregate of 8032 runs. However Sri Lanka still needs a further 326 runs to avert the follow on mark with nine wickets in hand. Earlier Gayle was in sight of bettering his fellow West Indian Brian Lara’s all time World individual batting record of 400 not out which was made against England in 2004 at St. John’s in Antigua.

But his innings was cut short during the final session when he had reached a majestic 333 and was eventually bowled by the mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis much to the relief of the Sri Lankan bowlers.

Until then the dashing left hander really sent the home side on a leather hunt with a career best innings and probably one of the finest knocks by a West Indian batsman in the recent past. Gayle of course was more sedate in his approach unlike in the first day where he really lashed on the Sri Lankan spinners with as many as 8 sixes and a 12 boundaries.

No doubt he was feeling the hot and the humid conditions and was suffering from cramps which resulted in asking for a runner in the second over after tea having already completed his second triple hundred in his career. Gayle’s previous highest score was 317 against South Africa at St. John’s in April 2005. He however became the highest individual scorer against Sri Lanka while bettering the previous best of 313 by Younis Khan at Karachi in 2008.

Gayle also notched up the highest individual score at this venue as he finished his innings with nine sixes and 34 boundaries. Altogether he occupied the crease for a marathon 662 minutes.

Gayle was associated in a fourth wicket partnership of 167 runs with Brendon Nash who made a solid 64 from 159 deliveries inclusive of five boundaries. Ajantha Mendis struck twice in successive deliveries during the final session and went on to finish with a six wicket haul.

		SCORECARD
	WEST INDIES 1st innngs
 
C. Gayle b Mendis 				333
A. Barath c M. Jayawardene b Randiv 	 	 50
Darren Bravo c Samaraweera b Mendis 	 	 58
S. Chanderpaul c M. Jayawardene b Randiv 	 32
B. Nash lbw b Mendis 				 64
Dwayne Bravo lbw b Mendis 			 05
C. Baugh not out 				 08
D. Sammy b Mendis 				 00
A. Russell b Mendis 				 02
S. Shillingford st P. Jayawardene b Randiv 	 01
Extras (b2, lb6, nb12, w7) 			 27
TOTAL (for nine wickets decl 163.2 overs) 	580










Fall of wickets: 1-110, 2-306, 3-392, 4-559, 5-565, 6-566, 7-566, 8-579, 9-580.













Bowling: Thushara 21-4-79-0 (w4), Prasad 30-3-116-0 (nb9, w2), Mendis 59-6-169-6 (nb3),
	Randiv 48.2-3-183-3 (w1), Dilshan 3-0-15-0, Mathews 2-0-10-0.
SRI LANKA 1st innings
T. Paranavitana not out 			10
T. Dilshan c Shillingford b Russell 		00
K. Sangakkara not out 				33
Extras (b4, lb3, nb3, w1) 			11
TOTAL (for one wicket; 12.2 overs) 		54
Fall of wicket: 1-6.
Bowling: Roach 4-1-23-0 (nb3), Russell 3-1-12-1 (w1), Shillingford 3-2-1-0, Sammy 2.2-0-11-0.