CHRISTOPHER Gayle thundered a magnificent 165 yesterday to guide reigning champions Jamaica to a 283-run lead against the Windward Islands in the opening round West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) four-day match at Sabina Park.

After pacer Andrew Richardson had taken a five wicket haul to restrict the Windwards to 159, Gayle mowed through the visitors' bowling attack as Jamaica closed on 262-7 at the end of day two.

Scores: Jamaica 180 all out (71.4 overs) and 262-7 (56 overs); Windward Islands 159 all out (50.3 overs)

Gayle made just two in the first innings on Friday's opening day, but enthralled the handful of spectators with 14 audacious sixes and eight fours off just 155 balls and shared in a third-wicket stand of 102 with fellow left-hander Brendan Nash.

The sheer dominance of his knock was exemplified by Nash's astonishingly small contribution of 14. When the tall attacking batsman was dismissed by off-spinner Shane Shillingford he had scored 165 out of Jamaica's 228-6.

Earlier, the 30-year-old Richardson almost single-handedly pinned back the Windwards after they had resumed from their overnight 49-3.

In just the second over of the day, Lesporis fended a short leg-side delivery from Richardson and was caught by wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jnr.

Richardson, who at times got steep bounce off the pitch, also dismissed Windward Islands captain Liam Sebastien (6), night watch man Kenroy Peters (8) and Lyndon James (0) to leave the visitors in dire straits on 69-7.

Wrist-spinner Odean Brown was introduced in the second hour of play and he had a quick impact with the wickets of Dalton Polius (19) and Garey Mathurin (25), despite the surface offering less to the slow bowlers than it did on day one.

The last-wicket pair of Shane Shillingford (19) and Nelon Pascal, 28 not out, unfurled lusty blows and added 47 to leave Jamaica with a slim lead of 21.

Richardson, who returned to clean bowl Shillingford to close the Winward Islands first innings, ended with impressive figures of 5-36 off 11 overs and three balls. David Bernard and Brown ended with two wickets each.

Jamaica's openers Gayle and Simon Jackson added 50 for the first wicket before the latter edged a catch from a Pascal delivery through to wicketkeeper James and was gone for nine.

Pagon (two) clipped an inswinging delivery from Pascal straight into the hands of Shillingford and Nash was dismissed by left-arm swing bowler Peters.

Lambert (15) and Bernard (two) also went cheaply to Shillingford, but Gayle maintained his aggressive intent.

A highlight of his innings was his trademark lofted drives to both pace and spin.

His duel with Pascal was particularly intriguing. Several times he belted authentic boundaries, but the fast bowler was also left frustrated when Gayle's slashes ended up flying over the slip cordon.

Shillingford also had a hard time bowling to Gayle and saw two swept sixes sail into the Kingston Cricket Club.

Gayle brought up his hundred off 86 balls with a straight six onto the roof of the George Headley stand off Sebastien just after the tea break.

Left-arm spinner Garey Mathurin was relatively economical against Gayle, but even he had to look on as one of his deliveries was sent far and high into the northern section of the ground, mere metres from West Indies selector Robert Haynes was seated.

The former West Indies skipper, who declined a central retainer contract in 2010, has been at loggerheads with the WICB since the Cricket World Cup early last year.

Gayle, 32, last played a Test for the regional team in December 2010 against home team Sri Lanka. In the first innings of that series, Gayle stroked a monumental 333.

At close of play yesterday Gayle revealed that Peters was his greatest concern because "he was moving the ball both ways".

Ironically, it was Shillingford who dismissed Gayle when a tired-looking leg-sided swish ballooned to Smith at mid-wicket.

Baugh(14) went just before the close when he edged Shillingford's arm ball to Polius at slip.

Shillingford, who toiled admirably, has so fat taken 4-66 off 17 overs.

Sebastien told reporters yesterday that he expects difficult going for his team to save the match and hailed Gayle's innings as a "special" knock.

"It will be difficult after the innings played by Chris. I think we bowled well, but obviously it was a special innings. It showed the class of guy he is and how talented he is because he found it hard to keep him down.

"We still have a chance because we have capable batsmen. We have to restrict them and bowl them out as quickly as possible come tomorrow (today)," Sebastien said.

Play is scheduled to resume at 10:00 this morning with Andre Russell unbeaten on 23 and Nikita Miller not out on zero.

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