Gayle onslaught gives Windies boost

Chris Gayle mounted a furious onslaught on South Africa’s bowlers to speed the West Indies towards a daunting follow-on target on the t...

Chris Gayle mounted a furious onslaught on South Africa’s bowlers to speed the West Indies towards a daunting follow-on target on the third day of the fourth and final Test in St John’s on Sunday.

West Indies, needing 388 to avoid being asked to bat again, reached 90-1 at lunch. Gayle reached his half-century off just 34 balls, hitting 10 fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 63. Ramnaresh Sarwan was 22 not out in an unbroken stand of 76.

South Africa, who lead the series 2-0, declared their first innings on 588-6 after scoring briskly in the morning session.

Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince took their record fifth-wicket stand to 267 before Kallis mistimed a pull shot off fast bowler Daren Powell and fell to a simple catch by Dwight Washington at mid-on. Kallis hit 147 off 287 balls with 14 fours and a six.

Three balls later Prince was caught behind by wicketkeeper Courtney Browne off medium pacer Dwayne Bravo for 131.

Mark Boucher was 11 not out with Shaun Pollock on 13 when the declaration came.

Brief scores: South Africa: 588-6 decl (AB de Villiers 114, G.Smith 126, J.Kallis 147, A.Prince 131, Powell 2-137) vs West Indies: 90-1 (C.Gayle batting 63, R.Sarwan batting 22).