Gayle century puts Windies in strong position

Chris Gayle silenced his critics with an unbeaten century and put the West Indies in a strong position against Australia at stumps on Day Four of the second Test at Adelaide Oval.

Having resumed the day at 23 without loss, Windies were 284 for eight at the close of play with Ravi Rampaul (0) giving company to his skipper.

Gayle, who has been criticised recently for throwing away his wicket, played a rather uncharacteristic knock on Monday, his 155 taking a whopping 271 balls and consisting of 16 hits to the fence but just one over it. It was his first Test hundred against Australia.

Besides Gayle's majestic ton, the next best individual contributions to the West Indies innings came from Shivnarine Chanderpaulu00a0 (27), Brendan Nash (24) and Dwayne Bravo (22).

Mitchell Johnson's (19-1-85-4) late burst meant the visitors slipped from 251 for four to 284 for eight.

The other Australia pacer, Doug Bollinger was cited for dissent and will face an International Cricket Council hearing.

Bollinger reacted angrily when he had an emphatic lbw appeal refused on day four of the second Test against West Indies in Adelaide.

The left-armer boiled over when Windies batsman Nash, on seven, did not offer a shot to an in-dipping delivery and was struck on the pads.

Bollinger's appeal took him to within a metre of Nash, and when refused by umpire Asad Rauf, the Australia paceman kicked the turf in disgust.

Replays showed the delivery was on track to strike the stumps but Nash went on to made 24.

Australia couldn't refer the verdict to the third umpire, given captain Ricky Ponting had earlier used his two permitted challenges unsuccessfully.