Jamaica are in the driver's seat at the end of the first day of the Busta International Shield Final at Sabina Park, Kingston. Chris Gayle made a century and Wavell Hinds is poised to reach one on Sunday morning, Jamaica going to stumps on Saturday evening at 282 for 4 against Guyana.

Gayle - century maker Photo CricInfo

Gayle, the twenty-one year-old left-handed opening batsman, made 125 - his third century of the first-class season - before edging a Mahendra Nagamootoo leg-spinner to Neil McGarrell at slip. At the crease for almost five hours, Gayle struck twelve fours as he brought his season's aggregate to 893. This makes him the leading run-scorer for the domestic season thus far - at least until it is Carl Hooper's turn to bat.

Gayle's opening partner, Leon Garrick, was named in the West Indian training squad for the South African series earlier this week, but he failed to make a good start yesterday after Jamaican captain Jimmy Adams won the toss and elected to bat. Garrick made 25 before being dismissed an over before the lunch break, edging a Hooper delivery to wicketkeeper Azeem Haniff. Garrick and Gayle added 82 for the first wicket.

The day was dominated by the partnership of Gayle and fellow left-hander Wavell Hinds, the pair adding 147 for the second wicket in around three hours. Hinds ended the day on 94, six short of what would be his second century of the season in his third game for Jamaica since returning fro the West Indies' Australian tour.

Mahendra Nagamootoo was the most successful of the Guyana bowlers yesterday. Fighting off a challenge from Trinidad & Tobago's Dinanath Ramnarine for the Test spinner's place, Nagamootoo took 3/100 from 33 overs yesterday. In addition to the wicket of Gayle, he removed Marlon Samuels for 18, followed by the prize wicket of Jimmy Adams.

Displaced as West Indian captain and left out of the sixteen-man Test squad, Adams came to the crease to a great home-town ovation, but got a glove to his first delivery, the ball carrying to Travis Dowlin at mid-off. Adams' first-ball duck gave Nagamootoo his third wicket of the day.

New West Indian captain Hooper, who was jeered by parts of the Sabina Park crowd in the morning, was the other successful bowler with 1/54 from 32 overs. Guyana had some injury scares during the day. Ramnaresh Sarwan was taken to hospital after being struck in the leg by a shot from Chris Gayle. X-rays showed no fracture, but Sarwan was unable to resume his place in the field yesterday.

Wicketkeeper Vishal Nagamootoo was struck in the eye by a rearing delivery from left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell and was taken from the field, returning about half an hour later wearing a helmet.

As is the custom around the world this week, there was a minute's silence before the start of play in memory of Sir Donald Bradman.

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