16 November,2010 12:26 PM IST | | Agencies
Chris Gayle scored an unbeaten 255, the highest by a West Indies batsman in Sri Lanka, to put his team in a strong position in the opening Test on Tuesday.
The left-handed opener cracked eight sixes and 29 fours in his 326-ball knock as the tourists reached 429-3 in their first innings at lunch on the second day.
The previous Test-best by a West Indies batsman in Sri Lanka was 221 by Brian Lara at Colombo in 2001.
Vice-captain Brendan Nash was unbeaten on 16 at the interval.
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Gayle, who batted aggressively on Monday to hammer 219 off 247 balls, played cautiously in the morning session on Tuesday and added just 36 to his overnight score with the help of three fours.
He hit only one boundary in the opening hour, pulling seamer Dammika Prasad. He later struck two fours in an over from paceman Thilan Thushara, lofting over mid-off and edging past slips.
The West Indies added 67 to their overnight total of 362-2 for the loss of one wicket in the two-hour session.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (32) fell soon after becoming the world's 10th batsman and the second West Indian after Brian Lara (11,953) to complete 9,000 Test runs during his 104-ball knock.
He was caught by Mahela Jayawardene at first slip while attempting to cut off-spinner Suraj Randiv, adding only 12 to his overnight score 20. He put on 86 for the third wicket with Gayle.
Randiv has so far bagged two wickets and spinner Ajantha Mendis one.
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