Cricket: Gayle earns entry to elite club

Chris Gayle made the first triple-century by a West Indies player away from home. Photo / AP

Chris Gayle joined elite company in making a career-high 333 for the West Indies against Sri Lanka in the first test.

He joins Sir Donald Bradman, fellow West Indian Brian Lara and Indian opener Virender Sehwag as the only cricketers to have twice passed 300 in a test innings.

The hard-hitting lefthander clubbed 34 boundaries and a West Indies record nine sixes over 437 balls before becoming one of spinner Ajantha Mendis' six victims as the visitors compiled 580 for nine declared.

By lunch on the third day last night, Sri Lanka were 148 for three, and facing a stiff assignment.

Mendis finished with six for 169 off 59 overs, taking his share of punishment from the tall Jamaican.

"I am smiling because I know the people of the West Indies are smiling," Gayle said. "I am happy that by my batting I can bring happiness to the people and give them something to cheer about.

"People back home are following the cricket very closely and it is good that they can start the day with some good news.

"A lot of people have been sending me congrats and I want to thank them for their support, not just for me, but for the team as well."

Gayle, stripped of the captaincy in an argument with the West Indies Cricket Board, fell short of Lara's world record of 400.

It was the first triple-century by a West Indies player away from home, the highest by any player against Sri Lanka, and the first triple hundred at Galle International Stadium.

"It was not easy. It was hard work out there but I enjoyed it," Gayle said. "333 ... I'm very happy to achieve another major milestone. I want to say thanks to the guys who supported me and batted so well alongside me.

"At one stage the bat started to get quite heavy in my hand but the others were telling me just to carry on, stay out there, and get as many as I could."

Gayle was involved in three century partnerships, 110 with opener Adrian Barath (50), 196 with Darren Bravo (58 on debut) and 167 with Brendan Nash (64).

But after Mendis trapped Nash lbw with the score on 559, the visitors lost six wickets for 21 runs.

Rival captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Graeme Smith hailed Younis Khan's brilliant hundred which helped Pakistan salvage a fighting draw in the first test at Dubai.

Younis, 32, remained unbeaten on 131 to guide his side to safety, Pakistan finishing on 343 for three, after being set a daunting target of 451.

Misbah scored 76 not out and shared a Pakistan-South Africa series record of an unbroken 186 for the fourth wicket.

"Younis is a world-class player and he proved his worth with a fighting knock," said Misbah.

Younis was playing his first test since July last year after being sidelined because of a ban and a falling out with teammates.

"He is a wonderful team man and his knock helped us draw this test, also giving us the boost in confidence for the next," said Misbah of the final test starting in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Pakistan started the day on 109 for two, and needed to bat out 90 overson the final day. Younis added 82runs for the third wicket with Azhar Ali, who made 63 before being joined by Misbah.

South Africa were sloppy in the field, dropping three catches - two off Younis and one off Misbah.

"Unfortunately, we missed a few chances which probably put us on the back foot.

"Once Younis Khan especially got in, he batted superbly well. Credit to him for his knock," Smith said of Younis' 17th test ton.

DOUBLE 300s

* Don Bradman (Australia) 334 (v England, Leeds 1930), 304 (v England, Leeds, 1934).
* Brian Lara (West Indies) 375 (v England, Antigua, 1994). 400 not out (v England, Antigua, 2004).
* Virender Sehwag (India) 309 (v Pakistan, Multan, 2004), 319 (v South Africa, Chennai, 2008).
* Chris Gayle (West Indies) 317 (v South Africa, Antigua, 2005), 333 (v Sri Lanka, Galle, 2010).

- AGENCIES