TEST TRIPLE CENTURIES FOR WI B Lara, 400* v England in Antigua in 2004 B Lara, 375 v England in Antigua in 1994 G Sobers, 365* v Pakistan in Jamaica in 1958 C Gayle, 317 v South Africa in Antigua in 2005 L Rowe, 302 v England in Barbados in 1974 Profile: Gayle force one

Chris Gayle became the fourth West Indian to hit a triple century on a fourth day against South Africa in Antigua dominated by the bat.

Gayle, 184 overnight, scored 317, an epic knock which came off 483 balls and included 37 fours and three sixes.

West Indies closed on 565-5 - 23 runs behind - after Monde Zondeki took three of the four wickets to fall in the day - including Gayle via a slip catch.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who put on 149 runs with Gayle, was unbeaten on 82.

Gayle wasted little time in the morning eclipsing his previous highest score of 204, scored against New Zealand in Grenada in 2002.

His wonderful effort saw him set a new benchmark for individual scores against South Africa, eclipsing the late Sir Don Bradman's 299 not out at Adelaide in the 1931-32 series.

I've been working hard with Sir Garry Sobers and thanks to him it's paid off Chris Gayle More Gayle quotes

Team-mate and former skipper Brian Lara heads the list of West Indians to make triple centuries, his knocks of 375 in 1994 and 400 not out last year both coming in Antigua and both against England.

Sir Garfield Sobers held the previous world record of 365 not out against Pakistan at Kingston in 1958, while Lawrence Rowe hit 302 against England at Bridgetown in 1974.

In all, Gayle's was the 20th triple century in Test history and first since Virender Sehwag's 309 for India against Pakistan last year.

South Africa went wicketless in the afternoon, but Zondeki (3-87) struck twice in the first session - ousting Ramnaresh Sarwan for 127 and Lara (four) both to catches.

Chris Gayle was at his brilliant best in Antigua

Sarwan had added 24 runs to his day-three score when driving to point, where Ashwell Prince took a fine catch low down.

The 331-run stand between Gayle and Sarwan was the highest for any wicket at the Recreation Ground, as well as the highest second-wicket partnership by any team against South Africa.

Lara was markedly subdued in his brief stay at the crease, taking 21 balls to get off the mark.

The former skipper, celebrating his 36th birthday, troubled the scorer with a square drive to the fence but he was soon on his way after dallying outside his off-stump and edging behind.

Gayle and Chanderpaul sauntered through the afternoon session, but there was finally some joy for South Africa in the early part of the evening when Gayle slashed at Zondeki and picked out Graeme Smith at first slip.

Narsingh Deonarine was at times painful to watch, amassing four runs in 44 balls, but he did not deserve to go when umpire Billy Bowden gave the first of two controversial decisions late in the day.

He upheld Smith's appeal for caught behind despite Deonarine not looking to hit the ball, and soon after Dwayne Bravo clearly nicked to keeper Mark Boucher but survived to be unbeaten on 10.