BENONI, South Africa, (Reuters) - Opening batsman Chris Gayle scored his second whirlwind hundred within a week to rescue a flawed West Indies batting effort on the first day of their four-day tour match against Easterns yesterday.
West Indies, who won the toss, were dismissed shortly before the close for 334 despite Gayle's 145. At stumps, Easterns were 30 for two in reply.
After smashing an astonishing 79-ball hundred in the third Test against South Africa last Saturday, Gayle required just 74 balls to post three figures before lunch against South Africa's first class champions.
Gayle was still in some discomfort from the hamstring injury that has been bothering him but was needed to play as the tourists continue to struggle with injuries.
When Gayle was out, caught by off Pierre de Bruyn, he had faced only 140 balls, hitting 17 fours and five sixes.
Gayle apart, the West Indies buckled in the face of some fine bowling, Zander de Bruyn being the pick with three for 52.
Before lunch, the Easterns bowling had taken a hiding from Gayle, debutant Morne Morkel seeing his first five overs in first-class cricket disappear for 54, including 17 no-balls.
But for some dogged batting at the bottom of the order by Adam Sanford (21) and Ravi Rampaul (20), the West Indians would have struggled to make it past 300.
Sanford continued his good day when he picked up the two Easterns wickets to fall.
WEST INDIES first innings
C.Gayle c J.Morkel b P.de Bruyn 145
D.Sanga c Jennings b J.Morkel 10
R.Sarwan c O'Connor b Z.de Bruyn 12
S.Chanderpaul lbw b Malao 2
C.Baugh c M.Morkel b J.Morkel 36
R.Jacobs c Cullinan b P.de Bruyn 17
V.Drakes c O'Connor b Z.de Bruyn 15
D.Mohammed c J.Morkel b Flusk 19
A.Sanford c M.Morkel b O'Connor 21
R.Rampaul b Z.de Bruyn 20
C.Collymore not out 5
Extras: (b-2, lb-5, w-6, nb-19) 32
Total: (all out, 74.1 overs) 334
Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-138, 3-150, 4-199, 5-240, 6-241, 7-273, 8-277, 9-317.