Gayle shines again

- File

Gayle... slammed 164.

KWEKWE, Zimbabwe (Reuters):

IN-FORM West Indies opener Chris Gayle hit a dominant 164 yesterday to lift his side to a strong position by the close of the first day of their three-day game against Zimbabwe A at the Kwekwe Sports Club.

Gayle followed his career-best 259 against a President's XI on Tuesday with another blistering batting display as the West Indies piled on 374 after being put in to bat.

The tourists lost their last five wickets for just nine runs as the home side fought back. By the close, Zimbabwe A were 26 without loss in reply to trail by 348 runs.

Gayle's opening partner Daren Ganga contributed 79 to a first-wicket partnership of 242 as Zimbabwe A were forced to wait until an hour after lunch before making the breakthrough.

Ganga sliced the impressive left-arm spin of Raymond Price high to captain Mluleki Nkala in the covers, having hit 11 fours and a six in 161 balls.

Price, the nephew of United States-based professional golfer Nick, then claimed three more wickets in quick succession.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul edged to Alistair Campbell at slip for no score, Gayle was finally adjudged leg before wicket as he played well forward and Ramnaresh Sarwan was clean bowled for a duck to reduce the tourists to 263 for four.

Gayle began the first-class leg of the Zimbabwe tour with a duck but has now scored 423 in his last two innings with just one dismissal. On Saturday, he faced 184 balls and struck 28 fours.

Captain Carl Hooper looked in fine touch for West Indies before he presented Campbell with another chance at slip off Barney Rogers to depart one short of his fifty.

His vice-captain Ridley Jacobs went for 18 after a sixth-wicket stand of 60 with Marlon Samuels, brilliantly caught by Stuart Matsikenyire at mid-off as he drove firmly at the left-arm seam of Bryan Strang.

Samuels followed in Strang's next over, plumb in front for a fluent 50 off 84 balls which included 10 boundaries.

The rest of the innings then fell away in short order and Price finished as the pick of the Zimbabwe A bowlers with deserving figures of five for 121 from 34 overs.