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Junior Murray still believes deep in his heart that he has some unfinished business he wants to complete.

He dreams of a return to the international stage after being out for the past two years. He also wanted to score a first-class ton badly in front of adoring supporters at home at the Queen's Park National Stadium.

The stadium is at the bottom of the hill where Murray's house stands and he learnt his cricket here at the old Queen's Park Stadium.

Before Sunday, he had failed to pass 30 in a first-class innings here, although his career-high 218 was made on the other side of town at Grenada's other first-class ground at Tanteen against Guyana four years ago.

The champagne moment came at 4:21 p.m. Sunday when he turned Jamaican spinner Gareth Breese off his pad, his trademark, slightly across the line fashion for his 100th run.

The century (105) was his fourth at the regional level and his seventh in first-class cricket.

It was finally good to be able to get three-figures at the stadium. This is a place I never got past 30, and I wanted it badly, he told MIDWEEKSPORT.

And the fans here today [Sunday] were very special; they really inspired me on, he added.

I have seen Murray play better, but this was a very disciplined knock, Windward Islands manager Carl Glasgow said.

It was one of my more disciplined innings, and I really wanted it badly out there, Murray said.

It was really special because I had struggled in the Windward Islands Tournament, and it was nice that I could have put it together.

I just told myself to stay in there and the runs are going to come, and it did.

He is now five runs short of 5 000 runs in first class cricket a feat he is now likely to achieve in the second game against Barbados starting Friday at Kensington Oval.

A relieved Murray waved to every corner of the ground and then kneeled as if giving thanks as soon as be got to the coveted landmark.

His century came in 281 minutes off 170 balls and for a normally dashing player it was a disciplined, chanceless innings which included only nine fours.

The ton was part of a brilliant first game for the Windward Islands wicket-keeper.

When Jamaica batted, he had a spotless record behind the stumps, not conceding a bye and effecting six dismissals, including two catches in front slip and one stumping.

After Sunday, Lewis was again singing his praises.

I think we saw some real top-class keeping today from Junior, Lewis said.

This was a really special innings because you could have seen Junior wanted it badly, and he fought long and hard for it.

Many Grenadians still to this day believe Murray's international career has been halted for unexplained reasons other than cricketing ones.

But as far as Murray is concerned, he wants to prove himself again by the real weight of his performance on the field.

© The Barbados Nation