Gayle smashes brilliant double century

(AFP/Getty Images)

Chris Gayle plundered a brutal, unbeaten double century to put the West Indies firmly in control after the first day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. The flamboyant opener, on his first Test innings since losing the captaincy to Darren Sammy, smashed 26 fours and eight sixes as he dominated a day that closed with the tourists on 362 for 2.

There were fifties for Adrian Barath and Darren Bravo but the day belonged to Gayle, whose 219 not out took just 247 balls.

In the second Test between India and New Zealand in Hyderabad, Brendon McCullum struck a well-paced century as the tourists reached 237 for 4 on the fourth day after conceding a 122-run first innings lead. New Zealand were 115 runs ahead with six wickets in hand at the close of play.

Harbhajan Singh had earlier become the first No 8 to hit centuries in consecutive Tests with an unbeaten 111.