Samuel spin checks Aussie progress

It left the home side 180 for three, still 211 runs behind the tourists’ first innings 391. Together at the crease were Mark Waugh (10) and nightwatchman Jason Gillespie (2).

Openers Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden hit out boldly, smashing 156 runs in 165 minutes before Hayden was run out for 58 the second time he had been dismissed that way in three innings in the series.

Samuels, maintained the West Indies’ momentum by ousting Slater (83) and Justin Langer (6) in the space of eight balls.

Earlier, the tourists crashed from a formidable 354 for five immediately before Lara’s dismissal to 391 all out, losing their last five wickets to off-spinnerColin Miller.

Lara fell after tormenting the home team with an onslaught spiced with 29 sizzling fours and one six.

Resuming with an unbeaten 136 when the West Indies went back to the crease with 274 for four, Lara battered another eight fours, most of them off luckless leg-spinner Stuart MacGill.

ScoreboardWEST INDIES:1st Innings (Overnight 274 for 4): Sherwin Campbell lbw b Gillespie 18; Darren Ganga b Gillespie 23; Wavell Hinds c Ponting b Gillespie 27; Brian Lara c Mark Waugh b Miller 182; Jimmy Adams c Gilchrist b Gillespie 49; Mervyn Dillon c Mark Waugh b Gillespie 9; Marlon Samuels lbw b Miller 35; Ridley Jacobs Not Out 11; Nixon McLean Not Out 0
Extras: (b 8, lb 8, nb 6) 22; TOTAL:(for 7 wkts, 119 overs) 376; Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-52, 3-86, 4-269, 5-280, 6-354, 7-376

Bowling: McGrath 31-11-80-0, Gillespie 32-9-89-5, Miller 31-11-73-2, MacGill 24-5-118-0, Ponting 1-1-0-0

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings): Michael Slater c sub (Sarwan) b Samuels 83; Matthew Hayden run out 58; Justin Langer c Lara b Samuels 6; Mark Waugh batting 10; Jason Gillespie batting 2; Extras: (b 2,lb 9, w 2, nb 8) 21; TOTAL: (for 3 wkts in 49 overs) 180
Fall of wickets:1-156, 2-160, 3-169

Bowling: Walsh 13-1-36-0, Black 10-1-39-0, Dillon 6-0-33-0, McLean 7-0-23-0, Adams 2-0-13-0, Samuels 11-3-25-2.