Gayle puts Surrey B in contr ol

- Junior Dowie

Nehemiah Perry scoops up a low caught and bowl chance from Darren Powell as Kingston wicketkeeper Matthew Sinclair looks on during yesterday's encounter against Surrey A at Sabina Park.

SUPERB knock of 152 not out by West Indies opener Chris Gayle has put Surrey B in prime position to claim this year's Jamaica Cricket Association Country Cham-pionship crown after day one of the final round yesterday.

With 13 points on the board and needing an outright victory to threaten leaders and County brethren Surrey A, the B side appears set to achieve that goal as the A side laboured against Kingston.

At yesterday's close at Up Park Camp, Surrey B made 300-3 declared. Cornwall limped to 132 and then, following on, were 35 without loss with Damion Grey on 20 and Dwayne Ewart on 15.

Gayle batted throughout the innings and shared in a 183-run opening stand with former Jamaica Under-19 wicketkeeper/batsman Mel Wint who made an attacking 63.

The pair took the attack to the Cornwall bowlers knowing only an outright win would be good enough to give them a realistic shot at the title.

They went to the lunch interval on 159 without loss with Gayle on 90 and Wint 49. Upon resumption, Gayle was dropped on 95 but then never looked back. His century came up in 139 minutes off 129 deliveries and included 12 fours and one six.

With Gayle and Wint batting, Cornwall bowlers had no clue how to get them out, in the end it took a run out to end Wint's innings.

Surrey B sent Brian Murphy in at number three to step up the run rate and he did just that with a dashing 21.

Captain Wayne Cuff joined Gayle and the two added 52 for the third wicket before Cuff went caught behind by wicketkeeper Negus Samuels off pacer Ainsley Goss for 24.

When Gayle brought up his 150 in the 56th over, the captain decided to declare leaving Gayle on 152 and Gareth Breese 10 not out. Gayle faced 152 deliveries in his 197-minute stay with 18 fours and four sixes.

At Sabina Park, Surrey A - three points clear of Surrey B in the standings at the start of the day - struggled mightily against the nagging spin of the Sabina Park-based side and were bowled out for a miserable total of 139.

In reply, Kingston were 63-4 when bad light stopped play at about 5.35; an hour before the extended close of play due to rain interruptions in the opening session.

After being sent in to bat and observing a minute's silence for the US suicide bombing tragedy on Tuesday, Surrey A got off to a good start with captain David Bernard Jnr (36) and Keith Hibbert (27) putting on 58 for the opening stand. However, when they were parted, the innings crumbled with legspinner Ryan Cunningham being the chief destroyer with 6-38 off 25.2 overs including the prize wicket of Wavell Hinds for six.

Offie Nehemiah Perry chipped in with 3-43 as only Laurie Williams offered even minimal resistance in the A team's lower order with 26 from 103 deliveries.

In overcast conditions, Kingston also failed to shine with the bat as only left-handed opener Nicholas Austin looked relatively comfortable at the crease with a quick-fire 30 before he was superbly caught one-handed by Williams at mid-on off the unorthodox spin bowling of Kevin Peart.

Peart continued a fine day for spinners with 3-16 off 5.5 overs while lively paceman Darren Powell claimed Kingston's other wicket. Highly-touted youngster Jermaine Lawson failed to utilise what appeared to be ideal conditions for fast/medium bowlers by pitching too short.

In yesterday's other game at Port Esquivel: Melbourne were well placed to take first innings points from Middlesex.

Scores: Middlesex 147 (David Powell 64, Leon Garrick 35; Ramon Hutchinson 3-43, Dwayne Cooper 3-43). Melbourne 135-5 (Marlon Samuels 44, Dillon Ebanks 34; Hensley Wilshaw 4-42).

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