West Indies in charge against Easterns

Saturday, January 10, 2004

BENONI, South Africa (AFP): Opening West Indies batsman Chris Gayle scored a run-a-ball century on the opening day of their tour match against Easterns at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Friday, but his team-mates failed to follow through.

Gayle blasted 145 in an overall tally of 334 before the middle and lower order faltered. In spite of that, the West Indies were firmly in the driving seat.

Easterns, in reply, made a poor start, crawling to 30 for two at the close.

Dylan Jennings, promoted up the order to open the batting, survived a simple chance to Gayle at slip before being caught by Brian Lara two overs later for 3.

Night watchman Gareth Flusk, who came in with nine overs still to be bowled, then obligingly shouldered arms to a straight Adam Sanford delivery to give the Antiguan his second wicket of the afternoon.

Gayle brought up his half century in 34 balls and his century in 74 before slowing down a touch after lunch.

The left handed Gayle, who hammered a hundred in 79 balls against South Africa at Newlands last Saturday, was particularly severe on debutant Morne Morkel.

The teenager's first three overs came at a cost of 40 runs before he was rested until the end of the innings.

Gayle eventually gave away his wicket when he wafted lazily outside off stump to present Albie Morkel with a simple catch.

Only Carlton Baugh of the middle order made any claim for a Test spot.

He thumped 36 in 34 balls before being caught by a diving Morne Morkel at third man.

It was left to tail-enders Sanford and Ravi Rampaul, who made 21 and 20 respectively, to push the Windies total beyond the 300-mark.

Scoreboard at stumps on the first day:

West Indies 1st innings
C Gayle c A Morkel b P de Bruyn 145
D Ganga c Jennings b A Morkel 10
R Sarwan c O'Connor b Z de Bruyn 12
S Chanderpaul lbw Malao 2
C Baugh c M Morkel b A Morkel 36
R Jacobs c Cullinan b P de Bruyn 17
V Drakes O'Connor b Z de Bruyn 15
D Mohammed c A 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: (2b, 5lb, 19nb, 6w) 32
Total (all out) 334

Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-138, 3-150, 4-199, 5-240, 6-241, 7-273, 8-277, 9-317
Bowling: A Morkel 15-3-59-2 (1nb), M Morkel 5-0-54-0 (17nb, 1w), Flusk 10-2-37-1 (1w), Z de Bruyn 14.1-2-52-3 (1w), P de Bruyn 9-4-25-2 (1nb, 2w), Malao 15-3-71-1, O'Connor 6-1-29-1
Overs: 74.1

Easterns 1st innings
A Seymore not out 13
D Jennings c sub (Lara) b Sanford 3
G Flusk b Sanford 4
Z de Bruyn not out 5
Extras: (4b, 1lb) 5
Total (for 2 wkts) 30

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-15
Bowling: Sanford 6-2-10-2, Rampaul 4-2-3-0, Collymore 2-1-2-0, Mohammed 1-0-10-0
Overs: 13 

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