Gayle leads West Indies to 108-0 at tea

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, June 22 (Reuters) West Indies opener Chris Gayle made India's bowlers suffer on a rain-affected first day of the third test today.

Gayle slammed a belligerent 69 not out off 103 balls with five fours and five sixes to hurry the West Indies, who won the toss and chose to bat, to 108 without loss at tea.

The more circumspect Daren Ganga had faced 86 balls for his unbeaten 34.

Gayle took just a single off the first 20 balls he faced before he drove a delivery from fast bowler Shanta Sreesanth through mid-on for four to get on the way.

The opener was harsh on off-spinner Harbhajan Singh who he hit for sixes over long-on and long-off in his third over. The Indian's six overs to date have cost 42 runs.

Play started two-and-a-half hours late because of overnight and morning showers. Just eight overs were bowled before more rain forced a temporary interruption.

The weather saw the day's play reduced from 90 to 70 overs, of which 31 had been bowled by tea.

In the only change to the West Indies team, batsman Marlon Samuels replaced fast bowler Ian Bradshaw. All rounder Dwayne Bravo, who was doubtful because of a virus, was declared fit.

The match is the first test to be played at Warner Oval, which became the ninth test match venue in the West Indies. The four-game series is level at 0-0 after the first two matches were drawn.

REUTERS VJ BST0124