Gayle on the double

Gayle

HARARE, (Reuters):

A CAREER-BEST 259 not out from opener Chris Gayle gave West Indies total control after day two of their three-day match against a Zimbabwe Cricket Union President's XI yesterday.

After the President's XI declared their first innings on 128 for nine early in the day for a deficit of 63, West Indies amassed 457 for five to lead by 520.

Gayle spent two hours in the nets working on his technique after being dismissed for a duck in the first innings and it was time well spent as he dominated the bowling, scoring all around the wicket in a belligerent exhibition of strokeplay.

The 21 year-old left-hander has struck 40 fours from 297-balls to date.

Gayle shared a partnership of 144 for the third wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the pair scoring at more than a run a ball.

Chanderpaul, who played within himself as Gayle scored freely at the other end, fell leg before wicket to Paul Strang for 52, including eight boundaries.

The duo came together after the departure of Wavell Hinds for two. Hinds was caught by wicketkeeper Colin Delport off captain Mluleki Nkala.

Nkala also picked up the first wicket of the innings as he had Leon Garrick caught at the second attempt by Guy Whittall at third slip for 28.

Marlon Samuels fell in identical fashion to Chanderpaul, leg before to Strang for three, but that only brought Gayle together with Ramnaresh Sarwan, who looked in superb touch.

Sarwan scored 76 from 119 balls and hit 13 boundaries in a 146-run stand for the fifth wicket before edging a wild drive to Delport.

His innings included five fours in a row in the first over with the second new ball bowled by David Mutendera.

Earlier, the President's XI moved from their overnight 111 for eight to 128 for nine, the declaration from Nkala coming on the fall of the ninth wicket when Strang was caught behind off Reon King for 17.

Meanwhile the West Indies have called up Marlon Black and Pedro Collins after the latest injury blow ruled Mervyn Dillon out of the two-Test matches against Zimbabwe later this month.

Dillon sustained a knee tear in Saturday's triangular one-day final victory against India. Fellow paceman Cuffy pulled out of the tour last week with a stress fracture to his left instep.

Black, from Trinidad, is currently playing club cricket in England and was a member of the West Indies squad that toured Australia in 2000-2001.

Left-arm paceman Collins played his last Test against Australia on his home island of Barbados in 1998-1999.

SCOREBOARD

West Indies 1st innings 191

President's XI 1st innings

(overnight 111-8)

P.Strang c Jacobs b King 17

D.Mutendera not out 10

Extras (lb-4, nb-5) 9

Total (for nine wickets declared, 46.4 overs) 128

Fall: 1-0, 2-11, 3-12, 4-41, 5-53, 6-87, 7-96, 8-110, 9-128

Did not bat: Douglas Hondo

Bowling: King 12.4-5-22-3, Stuart 13-4-62-2 (nb-5) Ramnarine 15-5-28-3, McGarrell 6-3-12-1.

West Indies second innings

L.Garrick c Whittall b Nkala 28

C.Gayle not out 259

W.Hinds c Delport b Nkala 2

S.Chanderpaul lbw b P.Strang 52

M.Samuels lbw b P.Strang 3

R.Sarwan c Delport b Brent 76

R.Jacobs not out 24

Extras (lb-3 nb-10) 13

Total (for five wickets, 99 overs) 457

Fall: 1-56, 2-66, 3-210, 4-220, 5-366

Bowling: Mutendera 15-1-91-0 (nb-6) Hondo 11-2-58-0 (nb-3) Brent 14-1-65-1, Nkala 8-2-42-2 (nb-1) Ervine 12-1-58-0, P.Strang 15-2-73-2, Viljoen 18-4-50-0, Rennie 3-1-8-0, Masikadza 3-0-9-0

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