BRIDGETOWN, June 8: Brian Lara hammered a sparkling 116 and Chris Gayle 94 as the West Indies posted a massive 312-4 against Sri Lanka in the second One-day International on Sunday.

Skipper Lara, who survived a confident caught-behind appeal when on nought, went on to smash two sixes and eight fours in his 17th century to brighten his team’s chances of squaring the three-match series.

Lara shared the limelight with Gayle, who struck two sixes and 12 fours, to put the West Indies on course for the highest total at this venue after the hosts had elected to bat.

Gayle put on 137 with Lara to equal the West Indies’s best for the second wicket against Sri Lanka in 38 one-dayers.

Lara, batting at his regular number-three position, also completed 1,000 runs in 22 matches against Sri Lanka as he swept, pulled and drove powerfully during his 106-ball knock.

Marlon Samuels also made merry after Lara and Gayle had set the stage for the closing-overs fireworks as he scored an unbeaten 36-ball 56, including 21 in an over from leg-spinner Upul Chandana.

Lara and Samuels put on 109 for the fourth wicket as the hosts plundered 115 in the last 10 overs.

Sri Lanka packed their team with five spinners, but none could contain runs as Lara and Gayle gave the spectators plenty to cheer about with their rich stroke-play.

Left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas was the only bowler to command respect.

Vaas trapped Wavell Hinds (10) lbw and had a confident appeal against Lara turned down by New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden in his sixth over.

Gayle eased the pressure in the next over. He hit seamer Prabath Nissanka over point for his first six and then flicked for two successive fours.

Marvan Atapattu replaced Nissanka with Kumar Dharmasena, but there was no stopping Gayle who greeted the off-spinner with a pulled boundary.

Gayle survived a loud appeal for a catch on 39 while attempting to sweep Muttiah Muralitharan, but, like Lara, got the benefit of the doubt from Bowden.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES: