Sri Lanka vs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, 1st Test: Chris Gayle force blows away Sri Lanka at Galle
After relinquishing the captaincy Chris Gayle had promised the man replacing him at the helm of West Indian cricket Darren Sammy that he would give his cent percent to the team and has he kept his promise!
In the very first innings since the vow he made to Sammy, the belligerent left-handed opener toyed with the Sri Lankan attack to score one of the most brutal double centuries in the history of the longest format of the game to
pulverize the Sri Lankans on day one of the Galle Test.
The worrying thing for Kumar Sangakkara and his team is that Gayle is unbeaten and is eying a triple hundred when the battle resumes on day two of the Test; he wants to improve on his personal best of 317 and anything is possible
if he gets to that mark.
"I'd love to get to that 317 that would be a milestone. The wicket's still good to bat on and the spinners are getting a bit more bounce and turn. We'll see tomorrow, if we can get past the first hour anything
is possible."
The left-hander had a poor record in the subcontinent prior to the mayhem he created at the Galle International stadium, and understandably he was overjoyed when he finally broke the jinx.
He had an extended celebration upon reaching the landmark and even lied down on the ground for a few seconds as he rejoiced after reaching the three figures mark, yet his over the top act did little to spoil
his concentration as he kept plundering the bowling throughout the day.
"I was aware of that I had not scored a hundred against all three teams. I was keen to score a Test century against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. Coming here I was definitely looking forward to that first
break. When I got it I was very pleased and to be batting right to the end.
"The last time I toured here I didn't get any runs. I didn't get a half century in the Test and I struggled. When I got an opportunity like this it was very happy and thrilling for me to actually get past
the milestone."
The shell-shocked Sri Lankans, who were hoping for a continuation of their dominance over the Calypsos, wondered what had struck them as only a year or so ago Gayle had publicly denounced the longest format
of the game and hinted that he wanted to quit Test cricket and concentrate on the shorter varieties which are financially more lucrative and less taxing on the mind and body.
The Sri Lankan coach Trevor Bayliss conceded that his team had not expected the backlash that they received on the opening day of the three-match series, and would need to revitalize their energies if they
are to regain the lost ground.
"He's obviously a class player and a strong hitter and a devastating batsman when he gets going. Today was his day. We beat the bat a few times especially earlier with a couple of top edges over the top,
and on another day if something goes to the hand you are away.
"My point of view is I was disappointed with the way we went about things in the first session, which put us behind the eighth ball. We gave a guy like that a bit of a start where he would go from strength
to strength.”
Gayle ended the day at an astonishing 219 not out off 247 balls; he struck 26 fours and 8 sixes in his brutal assault.
The West Indians are placed at 362/2 and are targeting a score of 500 runs when they come out to bat on day two.
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