Robert Bailey, Star Writer

West Indies captain Chris-topher Gayle expressed delight in scoring his first test century on his home ground Sabina Park yesterday.

Gayle, who chalked up the ninth Test century of his career, scored a patient 104 runs from 194 balls, which included five-fours and five-sixes. Gayle shared in a crucial third-wicket partnership of 202 with Ramnaresh Sarwan, who struck 107.

lot of pressure

"When I went out to bat a lot of things were going through my mind. I remember the last test match I played here I got a pair and a lot of pressure was out there," Gayle said at the post-game press conference yesterday.

"To get a 100 on my home ground is very pleasing as well. Hopefully, things can carry on and get better from here on,"

"At the start of the innings I was a bit nervous, which doesn't happen to me that often, but I knew I had to go out there and get the job done," Gayle said.

The West Indies will resume today on 352 for seven, with Brendan Nash on 47 and Sulieman Benn on 10. They are 34 runs ahead after restricting England to a first-innings total of 318. Stuart Broad has so far taken 3-61 off 24, while his constantly pressing counterpart, Andrew Flintoff, has so far snared 2-57 of 29 overs.

keep wickets in hand

"It would have been nice for us to get a few more runs but our objective was basically to keep wickets in hand," he said.

"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. "Hopefully, Nash can go on and make a big one as well."

"This first Test is very important to us and we didn't want to actually 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 reasoned.

It was a well-played century innings from Gayle, who, on 85, was given out caught behind by wicketkeeper Matt Prior off the bowling of Flintoff by New Zealand umpire, Anthony Hill, but was later ruled not out by the third umpire, on referral, as television replays showed that the ball glanced off the thigh guard and not his bat.