Gayle powers to 71 in Jamaica trial

KINGSTON, Jamaica: West Indies opening batsman Chris Gayle slammed a punishing 71 off 52 balls as Jamaica began their Red Stripe Bowl trial matches on Wednesday at Melbourne.

Gayle and former Jamaica youth captain Shaun Findlay were in a rampant mood as they posted a 50-run opening stand after only 6.3 overs punishing West Indies pacers Jerome Taylor and Darren Powell. The Robert Samuels XI had reached 169 for three against the Wavell Hinds XI when rain aborted the match after 29.4 overs. Gayle hit ten fours and three sixes, two of his sixes off  Taylor, while Findlay stroked four consecutive boundaries off  Powell in hitting 31 off 28 balls. Findlay struck five fours and one six in his entertaining knock. Tamar Lambert (28) and Robert Samuels (22 not out) also made good contributions and the game was scheduled to continue. Jamaica, beaten finalists in the Red Stripe Bowl last year, are scheduled to play at home in Zone “A” of the Red Stripe Bowl starting on October 1.