West Indies opener Chris Gayle continued to torment Sri Lanka as he stroked an unbeaten 313 at tea on the second day of the first Test
West Indies opener Chris Gayle continued to torment Sri Lanka as he stroked an unbeaten 313 at tea on the second day of the first Test on Tuesday, keeping the tourists in complete control of the match.
Gayle became the first West Indian to score a triple century on foreign soil and the fourth player to score two triple centuries, joining Australian great Don Bradman, India's Virender Sehwag and compatriot Brian Lara.
With the batsmen swiping away the Sri Lankan attack with ease on the placid pitch, West Indies went to tea at 532-3 after Gayle had added 140 for the fourth wicket with Brendan Nash (55 not out).
Jamaican Gayle caressed Ajantha Mendis to the extra cover boundary to bring up his triple century off 393 balls, which included eight sixes and 32 fours. He dropped down on his knees in celebration while his team mates applauded him loudly from their balcony.
The hosts bowled a much tighter line to slow down the scoring rate as the West Indies lost Shivnarine Chanderpaul for 32 before going to lunch on a formidable 429-3.
Sri Lanka believed they had trapped Gayle leg before when they used up their second referral of the innings off the first ball of the day when Mendis rapped the fully stretched opener on the pads.
However, the decision went in favour of the batsman meaning Sri Lanka had lost out on both referrals.
Gayle was a total contrast to the first day where he belted the Sri Lankan bowling all around the ground, taking a more restrained approach during the morning session.
He moved past Brian Lara's score of 221, the highest by a West Indian against Sri Lanka and also past the highest ground score of 237 by Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa in 2004.
Sri Lanka's only success of the session was the wicket of Chanderpaul, who was deceived by the extra bounce spinner Suraj Randiv managed to extract. He went for an ill-advised cut shot and the edge was gobbled up at slip by Jayawardene.
Before his dismissal Chanderpaul became only the second West Indian after Brian Lara to pass 9,000 runs in test cricket, completing the feat in his 127th match.
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