PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Chris Gayle is still harbouring thoughts of resuming his innings, after he retired hurt on 100, in a bid to carry West Indies to victory in the fifth and final Test against England at Queen's Park Oval.

The West Indies captain strained his right hamstring, when going for the single that formalised his 10th Test hundred and second of the series and painfully hobbled off the field.

"I don't know how bad it is, but right now, I am feeling pretty decent," he told reporters yesterday, after his side reached 349 for four, replying to England first innings total of 546 for six declared.

"Occasionally, things like this happen and I would let the doctor decide, but (on Monday), I'll be doing a medical scan, so I will know how bad it is. But I will be definitely batting again."He added: "Even if I am not needed, I am going to bat again. We have a match to actually win out there, so we'll see how things unfold."

161 balls

Gayle reached his hundred from 161 balls, when he turned a delivery from Stuart Broad to-mid-wicket and Owais Shah mis-fielded. He ran through for the single and was fortunate that Graeme Swann's throw missed the stumps at the bowler's end.

But Gayle went down almost immediately after completing the run and, following medical attention on the field from West Indies physiotherapist C.J. Clark, he eventually limped away.

"I felt the twinge with my last two strides," he said. "On 99, you are always looking to put out that last extra effort to get the single to take you to triple figures.

"But it is just one of those things and I have been in this situation before, but I do not want this to be a regular thing.

"I pulled this same hamstring before in South Africa, so I think I may have aggravated it a bit. But this will not stop me - I'll be batting again."

Left-handers Brendan Nash and Shivanrine Chanderpaul hit half-centuries and teamed up for a century unbroken fifth-wicket stand that helped West Indies avoid the follow-on.

Gayle praised their batting and is looking forward to bigger, better things on the penultimate day.

Decent position

"I think we are in a pretty decent position to win this game," he said. "Once we can bat until tea, I am sure we can get a lead and we can put England under a bit of pressure.

"We have avoided the follow-on. This was our first objective. But we still want to be positive. We cannot take anything for granted.

"England are going to throw everything they have at us over the next two days, but we have to gear up our minds and be aware of the situation. Hopefully, we do not present them with any opportunities to get the better of us."

Gayle admitted the pitch was playing slowly and this would make victory hard work, but he felt it could be achieved.

"It is difficult to get wickets on this pitch," he said. "At the same time, it is not easy to score runs on it. You have to apply yourself, take your time and bat and be prepared to bat long.

"So Nash and Chanderpaul are doing a terrific job out there and hopefully, they can continue and get big hundreds and we can get a lead and we'll see what happens from there."