Gayle scores 317 as runs flow

Chris Gayle today became the fourth West Indian to score 300+ runs in an innings as the home side extended their total to 565/6, still 23 runs behind the South African total of 588/6 dec.

Gayle began the day on 183 with Ramnaresh Sarwan at his side on 103. Having smashed his first 150 runs off 149 balls yesterday, Gayle was more restrained today, looking determined to notch up a huge score. He did just that in a display of timed drives, delicate cuts and disciplined batting.

Sarwan was caught early on at point off Zondeki for 127, ending his 331 run partnership with Gayle and bringing Brian Lara to the crease. Lara failed to emulate his historic 400 not out scored on this very same ground only a year earlier, also falling to Zondecki for just 4 with the score on 363.

Gayle then added a solid 127 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul before the tea interval. After being entrenched in the 290s for some time, Gayle finally reached his historic triple-century. The chance of him becoming only the second man to score 400 runs became more and more possible until, when on 317, he sliced a wide delivery to slip.

Gayle’s 483-ball innings included 37 fours and 3 sixes. At the close of play he commented, “A lot of pressure was on me… I didn’t score any runs in the first two Test matches and I told myself I really had to dig deep and cash in on this wicket.”

Narsingh Deonarine fell to Graeme Smith for 4 shortly after. At the close of play Chanderpaul was 82 not out and Bravo 10. With a draw all but a certainty since day 2, the South Africans have already sealed a 2 – 0 series win, a result the West Indians will be bitterly disappointed with.

Score Summary:

South Africa 1st innings: 588/6 dec. (163 overs)
JH Kallis 147, AG Prince 131, GC Smith 126, AB de Villiers 114
DB Powell 1/137

West Indies 1st innings: 565/5 (178 overs)
CH Gayle 317, RR Sarwan 127, S Chanderpaul 82*
M Zondeki 3/87

West Indies trail by 23 runs