KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) – Chris Gayle stroked his 37th Test half-century as West Indies made a flying start to the first Test against Bangladesh here Friday.

At lunch, the left-hander was unbeaten on 61 and was accompanied by junior partner Kraigg Brathwaite on 40, helping the Windies to 103 without loss.

Sent in at Arnos Vale, neither Gayle nor Brathwaite experienced much difficulty against a docile Bangladesh attack that offered little in terms of potency.

Gayle has faced 83 deliveries and struck 10 fours and a six while Brathwaite has counted four boundaries in 92 balls at the crease.

Emerging from a slow start, Gayle counted two successive boundaries off seamer Rubel Hosssain to move into the 30s and reached his half-century in style, finding the ropes at mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Taijul Islam before clearing them next ball.

Brathwaite, meanwhile, looked in great touch, hammering off-spinner Mahmudullah through point for four and driving sweetly through mid-off in the same over, to collect his first boundaries of the day.