Date:23/04/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/04/23/stories/2003042305991900.htm

Sport - Cricket

Australia retains control

PORT-OF-SPAIN April 22. Australia retained a firm grip on the third day of the second cricket Test against the West Indies here on Tuesday finishing at 130 for the loss of two wickets at lunch on the fourth day.

Mathew Hayden on 63 and Daren Lehmann (2) were at the crease.

Earlier West Indies opener Daren Ganga's 117 spearheaded a spirited reply to Australia's mammoth first innings of 576 for four declared. Resuming from 186 for three, the home team was eventually bowled out for 408 an hour before the close.

``It's definitely special,'' Ganga said. ``It's in front of my home crowd and given the situation that the team was in, I think it was an important knock. It's a pity I didn't carry (it) on but nevertheless, I'm happy with my knock.''

Marlon Samuels supported with 68 while fast bowlers Brett Lee (four for 69) and Jason Gillespie (three for 50) led the Australian attack.

The 24-year-old Ganga, unbeaten 69 overnight, energised a modest crowd, which had been disappointed late on Sunday when captain Brian Lara fell just short of his first-ever century in his native Trinidad.

Ganga and vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan stretched their fourth wicket stand to 75 before Lee struck a half-hour before lunch.

Ganga, who notched his first-ever 100 in the opening Test loss in Guyana last week, struck 17 fours and one six from 238 balls in almost 5 1/2 hours.

The right-hander is the fifth Trinidadian to register a century in Port-of-Spain, following Andy Ganteaume (112 vs. England, 1948), Jeffrey Stollmeyer (104 not out vs. India, 1953), Charlie Davis (105 vs. India, 1971) and Larry Gomes (123 vs. India, 1983).

After a modest record in 17 previous Tests outside the Caribbean, Ganga has now scored back-to-back centuries in his first series at home.

``I had some form in me. I was coming back home and I felt comfortable playing at the Queen's Park Oval,'' Ganga said. ``The guys showed a lot of grit, a lot of determination and at the end of the day, we are still fighting in this Test match.''

Gillespie castled 21-year-old debutant David Bernard (7) as the West Indies slipped to 300 for six.

But fellow rookie Carlton Baugh helped Samuels prop up the lower order with a stand of 67 for the seventh wicket.

The diminutive wicket-keeper hit an enterprising 19 off 36 balls before he was dismissed to provide Stuart MacGill with his 100th wicket in his 21st Test.

Baugh smashed three fours but perished on the stroke of tea when he went back too far in trying to cut and smashed his off stump.

Samuels also fell to MacGill after a knock that spanned three hours. The 22-year-old stroked nine fours and a six off 122 balls.

Lee and Gillespie finished up the innings although Vasbert Drakes (24) offered spirited resistance.

Gillespie consigned Mervyn Dillon to his 25th duck in only his 32nd Test while Lee got rid of Drakes. Both batsmen fell to leg before wicket decisions.