Australia vs WI: Day 3

Daren Ganga and Brian Lara have scored centuries to place the West Indies in the lead after day 3 of the First Test.

The home side resumed the day at 0/16 before Wavell Hinds was trapped LBW not offering a shot to Stuart MacGill for 7 in an opening partnership worth 52.

Daren Ganga then joined debutant Devon Smith at the crease, with Smith playing a classy innings at the top of the order.

Smith was the next man to go when he edged a Jason Gillespie off-cutter from around the wicket to keeper Adam Gilchrist after making a polished 62 on debut.

Brian Lara joined Ganga at the crease and the pair put together a mammoth stand of 185, allowing the West Indies back into the match and setting up what could be a fantastic finish.

Lara was the first of the pair to dismissed following his glorious 110 when he was given out hit wicket off the bowling of left-arm chinaman Brad Hogg, allowing Australia a critical breakthrough.

Marlon Samuels lasted just 5 balls at the crease before he became Stuart MacGill's second wicket of the innings, caught by vice-captain Ricky Ponting for 7.

First inning hero Shiv Chanderpaul added 53 with Ganga for the fifth wicket before Ganga's maiden Test century innings came to an end when he was caught by Brett Lee of the bowling of tweaker Darren Lehmann for 113.

With Ridley Jacobs down injured Vasbert Drakes was sent in at number 7 and saw off the rest of the day with Chanderpaul, with the West Indian batsmen unbeaten on 14 and 26 respectively.

For the Australians, leg-spinner Stuart MacGill took 2/127 in what was a busy day of the leg-spinner.

Darren Lehmann had 1/6, Jason Gillespie 1/35 while Brad Hogg finished with 1/68 from 15 overs.

The West Indies now lead by 129 with 5 second-innings wickets in hand, forcing Australia to bat again and an intriguing battle to develop between the two sides.

The home side will resume day 4 at 5/381.

Scores

West Indies 237 (S Chanderpaul 100, R Jacobs 54*, A Bichel 3/55)

Australia 489 (J Langer 146, R Ponting 117, A Gilchrist 77, V Drakes 5/93)

West Indies 5/381 (D Ganga 113, B Lara 110, D Smith 62, S MacGill 2/127)

Stumps Day 3.

Posted by Andre