Gayle ton puts Jamaica in charge

FRIENDSHIP, Barbados (CMC):

Middle-order batsman Bryan Gayle stroked a sparkling maiden unbeaten century, while Kerry Holness narrowly missed out on another, as Jamaica put Leeward Islands' bowling to the sword on the opening day of their fourth-round match in the Regional Under-19 Championship here yesterday.

The defending champions amassed a mammoth 324 for five with Gayle hammering 112, Holness getting 97 and Aldaine Thomas weighing in with an unbeaten half-century down the order.

Gayle and Thomas stole the spotlight in the last session with an authoritative, undefeated sixth-wicket stand of 124 in 21 overs, with Thomas lashing three fours and two sixes off a mere 57 balls.

The right-handed Gayle reached his milestone minutes before the close with a powerful pull over midwicket for his fifth six. He also counted six fours from 138 deliveries in 186 minutes at the crease.

Batted attractively

Earlier, opener Holness, playing in his first match of the tournament, batted attractively for 245 minutes, faced 233 balls and struck 11 fours, mainly through the off side.

Eventually, he was lured in to an expansive drive off the last delivery in the first over after tea and was snapped up at slip off fast bowler Colin Archibald (2-49), after he and Gayle added 51 for the fourth-wicket.

Leachim Phipps took two for 67.

In other matches:

At Queen's Park: Windwards need 21 runs for first innings lead. GUYANA 147 all out (Shinron Hetmeyer 40, Ricardo Adams 37, Shawn Pereira 31; Preston McSween 4-55, Larry Edward 3-19, Shaquille Browne 2-24). WINDWARD ISLANDS 127 for three (Taryck Gabriel 71 not out, Keon George 44, Romario Shepherd 1-16).

At Kensington Oval: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 273 for five (Ewart Nicholson 104 not out, Stephen Wharwood 61, Andy Gobin 31, Anthony Simmons 22 not out; Darnell Greenidge 2-38) vs BARBADOS.