Georgetown: Centuries by West Indian batsmen Brian Lara and Daren Ganga turned the heat back on to Australia as the first Caribbean Test took a decided turn at the Bourda Ground on Saturday.

Faced with a huge 252-run innings deficit, the West Indies fought its way back into the contest with master batsman Lara and his Trinidadian 'apprentice' Ganga turning the tide with a 185-run third-wicket partnership to give the home side an outside hope of victory with two days to play.

At the close of the third day, the West Indies was 381 for five with first-innings centurion Shivnarine Chanderpaul unbeaten on 26 and Vasbert Drakes on 14 to hold a 129-run lead over the Australians.

Lara, who plundered three centuries off the Australian bowlers in the last 1999 Caribbean series, looked headed for another huge score on Saturday. Lara, who holds the world record Test score of 375 against England, had scored 277, 218 and 182 in the past against Australia.

Lara, who was recalled to the captaincy for the series after a three-year break, had been booed by some Guyanese fans loyal to sacked skipper Carl Hooper as he walked to the wicket.

But the crowd was soon eating out of his hand as the 33-year-old batting artist set to the Australian attack for his 19th Test hundred. With his second 50 coming off 56 balls and on 110, Lara was out in extraordinary circumstances just over an hour before stumps.

He attempted a sweep shot off leg spinner Brad Hogg, only to swing his bat in the follow-through and clip the top of the bails to be out hit wicket. Lara batted for just over three hours in his 157-ball knock containing 20 fours.

It was the wicket the Australians were sweating on and 15 minutes before stumps they removed Ganga, when he holed out to Brett Lee at mid-wicket off Darren Lehmann for 113 - his first Test century.

"I want us to bat for as long as possible," Lara said after the day's play. "The pitch is still playing pretty good and I don't think it's time to let up now. We have to fight their bowlers - (injured Ridley) Jacobs will come out to bat tomorrow - so I don't think we have enough just yet and we don't have any top-flight spinner so I want to bat for as long as possible tomorrow."

Lara was given splendid support by 24-year-old Ganga, who was relieved to vindicate the faith of Lara and the selectors with his maiden Test century in 311 minutes with 19 fours and a six off Hogg.

Australia's task of restricting the West Indies' second-innings total was not aided by a flood of no-balls for over-stepping. The Australian bowlers had conceded a total of 22 no-balls, 10 of them to fast bowler Brett Lee and even the leg spinners, Stuart MacGill (3) and Hogg (2) over-stepped the crease.

Earlier, Steve Waugh needed six stitches after splitting the webbing between his index and middle fingers on his left hand in attempting to stop a hot drive by exciting young opener Devon Smith. The Australian captain returned to the field after lunch and even bowled a couple of overs.

Smith, the 21-year-old Test debutant from Grenada, smashed 13 boundaries in his dashing 88-ball knock of 62. The left-hander was caught behind off the bowling of Jason Gillespie.

Sri Lankan umpire Asoka de Silva was again under scrutiny for his decision-making after he gave Wavell Hinds out lbw to Stuart MacGill for seven. Television replays showed that delivery from MacGill was turning enough to miss off- stump but de Silva gave him out.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Langer, Ponting slam tons, Aussies in command