Georgetown: Australia pushed for victory over the West Indies in the opening Caribbean Test after amassing a formidable 252-run innings lead at the Bourda ground on Friday.

Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting scored centuries in a record second-wicket stand and Adam Gilchrist smacked a lively 77 off 81 balls as Australia dwarfed the Windies' mediocre first innings of 237 with its effort of 489 of a flat, lifeless pitch.

At stumps on the second day, the West Indies had wiped off 16 runs without loss as captain Steve Waugh gave the new ball to his spinners Stuart MacGill and Brad Hogg to bowl five of the nine overs remaining before deteriorating evening light ended play.

Yet again the day's play ran into overtime because of a dawdling over rate. Debutant Devon Smith was unbeaten on 13 with Wavell Hinds on two at the close.

The Australians seized control of the opening Test in the four-match series through the efforts of Langer, who claimed his 14th hundred with 146 and vice-captain Ponting 117, his 15th Test century.

Ponting and Langer put on a record 248 runs, an Australian record for the second wicket in the Caribbean. Langer hit 19 fours and two sixes in his 270-ball knock before he was out to a catch behind to stand-in wicket-keeper Hinds off Vasbert Drakes.

Drakes removed Ponting, who offered a sharp catch to Marlon Samuels at slip to finish his 289-minute stay at the crease, punctuated with 18 boundaries.

Just when the West Indians had an encouraging middle session taking three wickets and then removing 157-Test record-breaker Steve Waugh for 25 soon after tea, Gilchrist blasted away in typical fashion to push the Australians well past a 200- run lead.

Gilchrist, who crashed nine fours and two sixes in his 146 minutes at the crease, added 85 runs off 83 balls for the seventh wicket with Andy Bichel (39) to take the initiative away from the home side.

Gilchrist, playing in his 40th Test match, has a batting average of 58.52. Drakes, the 33-year-old Barbados fast bowler, finished with 5-93 off 26.1 overs on a heartbreaking pitch for bowlers and was clearly the best of the Caribbean quicks.

Drakes is playing in only his third Test after starting out at international level in 1995 and playing his cricket in England and South Africa. The West Indians enjoyed a better middle session after Australia had gone to lunch without losing a wicket in the morning session at 253 for one, taking three wickets for 95 off 28 overs.

Darren Lehmann, who sat in the stands waiting to bat for almost five hours, lasted eight balls before he was splendidly caught by substitute David Bernard in a flying two-handed mid-air catch at square leg for six.

Waugh went lbw to give Mervyn Dillon his only wicket and Brad Hogg became another leg before victim on the first ball of a new spell by left-arm paceman Pedro Collins for three.

Bichel hit a pugnacious 39 off 46 balls before he was gloved brilliantly by stand- in 'keeper Hinds off Drakes and Jason Gillespie lasted five balls before he was bowled by one that kept low from young tearaway Jermaine Lawson for seven.

Brett Lee hit out lustily before he perished skying to Dillon at mid-on for 20 to give Drakes his fifth wicket of the innings. Hinds stood behind the stumps for regular wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs, who is out for the rest of the match after tearing groin muscles batting on Thursday. He will only bat if required. First innings centurion Shivnarine Chanderpaul was also off the field treating a knock to his knee suffered during his lbw dismissal.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Despite Chanderpaul's heroics Aussies in command