West Indies skipper Chris Gayle hugs Ramnaresh Sarwan (back to camera), as he celebrates scoring a century, during the third day of the first Digicel Test, at Sabina Park yesterday. Both batsmen shared a 202-run second-wicket partnership, which saw Sarwan also scoring a century. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

West Indies captain, Christopher Gayle, expressed delight at scoring his first Test century in his homeland Jamaica, on yesterday's third day of the first Digicel Test, at Sabina Park.

"To get a 100 on my home ground is very pleasing," said Gayle, the tall left-handed Jamaican opening batsman.

"When I went out to bat a lot of things were going through my mind. I remember the last Test match I played here (against India in 2006), I got a pair and a lot of pressure was out there," he added.

The pressure, he admits, was there from the outset, the batsman remarking that he was nervous when he went to the wicket on Thursday.

Commanding score

But after settling in behind the crease and completing his first few overs, Gayle went on to score a commanding 104, made off 191 balls. It included five fours and five sixes.

He stated that he did not get nervous often, but he had to shed the nerves and get the job done.

"After a few overs, things became natural, which I utilised as much as possible and carried on," he said.

Gayle indicated that the 202-run partnership between him and Ramnaresh Sarwan was very important, as they had to ensure that they capitalised on the good start given the team by the bowlers.

"This first Test is very important to us and we didn't want to let England back into the game that easily. We knew we had to go out there and hold our heads down and bat as long as possible," Gayle said.

He indicated that he would have preferred if they had made a few more runs, which would have given them a stronger advantage going into today's fourth day, which begins at 10 a.m.

"It would have been nice for us to get a few more runs, but our objective was basically to keep wickets in hand. At the end of the day, we have three wickets in hand so hopefully, the guys can capitalise on this 34-run lead and build on it for the team," Gayle said.

Skeptical of pitch

The Windies skipper was also skeptical of the pitch.

He said: "It was extremely difficult to make runs and this allowed England to capitalise on it, bowling wide and trying to have us make mistakes."

Gayle, though, is confident that the West Indies are in a strong position. He hopes that Brendan Nash, who is unbeaten on 47 and plays his domestic cricket at Sabina Park, can go on to do well.

"I have to give Nash a lot of credit and he is in good form. It's good to see him in his third Test match and stepping up to the plate. Hopefully, he can continue and capitalise and get the support of Sulieman Benn, Darren Powell and Fidel Edwards," he concluded.

Meanwhile, English fast bowler Stuart Broad, who took three for 61, was pleased with his effort.

"I thought throughout the day our boys bowled fantastic on a very slow, flat wicket. It was a great effort. It is crucial that tomorrow (today) that we get at them because we need to knock them over in the first hour and start batting," Broad said.

Overall, he said, Gayle and Sarwan "applied themselves well and it proved quite difficult to get them out".