Gayle Joins Elite With Triple Before Mendis Grabs Five

Gayle Joins Elite With Triple Before Mendis Grabs Five

Chris Gayle made 333 before he was dismissed by Ajantha Mendis and the West Indies declared

©Action Images / Scott Heavey

West Indies 580-9 dec. (Gayle 333, Nash 64, Mendis 6-169) v
Sri Lanka 54-1 (Sangakkara 33no)
First Test, Galle, day two
Scorecard

Chris Gayle became the fourth man to score two Test match triple-centuries as the West Indies piled up 580 for nine declared against Sri Lanka on day two of the first match in Galle.

Gayle passed his previous best score of 317 to register 333 and join Sir Don Bradman, compatriot Brian Lara and India's Virender Sehwag in an illustrious list of batsman to have twice passed 300.

He eventually fell when he was bowled by Ajantha Mendis, who went on to return figures of six for 169 as Sri Lanka hit back late in the day.

They would go on to close the day on 54 for one in reply.

Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (32) extended their partnership to 86 before Chanderpaul was caught by Mahela Jayawardene off Suraj Randiv and Gayle went to his triple-century with a boundary as he and Brendan Nash (64) added 167 for the fifth wicket.

Nash and Dwayne Bravo (5) were then both trapped in front by Mendis before Gayle's marathon innings finally came to an end having faced 437 balls, including 34 fours and nine sixes - just one coming on the second day when he launched Randiv high into the stand at long-off.

Mendis then bowled Darren Sammy and Andre Russell for nought and two respectively and Randiv had Shane Shillingford stumped for one as the West Indies lost wickets in a flurry prior to their declaration.

Randiv returned three for 183 as spin accounted for all nine wickets taken.

The first wicket in the match to fall to pace was Tillakaratne Dilshan's when he was caught by Shillingford off Russell, who bagged his first Test wicket with just his second ball in Test cricket.

Kumar Sangakkara then made his way to 33 in just 32 balls to be unbeaten at stumps while Tharanga Paranavitana made ten in 43 balls.

© Cricket World 2010