14 Jun 2012

Gayle plays for Windies again

11:41 am on 14 June 2012

Dynamic opener Chris Gayle has made his first West Indies appearance in 15 months in their 228-run win over English County cricket side Middlesex at Lord's.

Gayle, who last played for the West Indies in the World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan in Dhaka in March last year, looked in fine touch.

He hit two sixes and four fours in making 34 runs off 30 balls, following the end of his bitter dispute with Caribbean cricket officials.

Darren Bravo put a poor Test series behind him by scoring 112 not out at a run a ball.

Dwayne Smith weighed in with 96 and Dwayne Bravo a rapid 40 not out.

A weakened Middlesex side - they fielded only four regular first-team players - were left to chase a huge West Indies total of 335 for four off 50 overs and duly got nowhere near, collapsing to 107 all out with Gayle taking the last two wickets in the space of three balls with his off-spin.

England and the West Indies play the first of three one-day internationals at Southampton this weekend.