Adelaide: Anyone who saw Chris Gayle bat on the fourth day of the second test against Australia here would not be able to guess in wildest of his dreams that this was the same man who had predicted the death of Test cricket a few months back. Today, he not only upheld the sanctity of test cricket but his innings was a perfect advertisement for the longest version of the game.

The West Indian skipper played one of his most uncharacteristically restrained innings, remaining unbeaten on 155 at the end of Day 4. Not only did his innings prove that he still has it in him to play test cricket and lead West Indies in the longest version of the game, but it also put the Caribbeans in control of the second test match against the Aussies. At stumps on Day 4, West Indies had extended their lead to 296 runs with 2 wickets still in hand. With the turn and bounce that we saw in the first innings, the Aussies would have their task cut out to save this game.

In the past century, the highest score batting last to win a game is 239 and if Gayle doesn’t declare overnight, Australia might need to beat the all-time record of 315. West Indies finished the day at 284 for 8 with Gayle, who carried his bat throughout the day, on 155 and Ravi Rampaul yet to score.

Gayle scored his century of 179 balls and it was one of the most emotive displays of celebration that anyone has ever seen from Gayle. It was heartening to see him stop himself from playing in his customary swashbuckling style and being content with keeping the ball on the ground. It wasn’t till his 257^th delivery that he scored his first six when he pulled one over mid-wicket off Marcus North.

All this while, wickets were falling at regular intervals at the other end. Barath (17) was unfortunate to be run out at the non-striker’s end when Gayle’s straight drive touched the bowler Hauritz’s hand before crashing into the stumps. It was probably the only thing Gayle did wrong all day!

Ramnaresh Sarwan fell for 7 when he sent a leg-side catch to Haddin off Johnson. Bollinger trapped Shivnarine Chanderpaul plumb in front for 27 and Watson then bowled a fast, swinging yorker that clipped the leg stump of Nash (24).

With a day to play and West Indies still batting, the most likely result seems like a draw. But Chris Gayle at least made sure that West Indies doesn’t go 2-0 down after the first two tests. In fact, if the performance of Suleiman Benn in the first innings was anything to go by, the Aussies may have a hard time handling the lanky spinner’s spin and bounce on the final day.

Brief Scores:

West Indies 451 and 8 for 284 (Gayle 155*, Johnson 4-85) lead Australia 438 by 296 runs

Tagged with: Adelaide, Adrian Barath, Australia, Chris Gayle, Doug Bollinger, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shane Watson, West Indies

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