Lara's century boosts West Indies

Brian Lara has scored an unbeaten century and shared a 183-run partnership with Jimmy Adams to help the West Indies reach 274 for four in their first innings at the close of play on the first day of the third cricket Test against Australia.

Lara finished the opening day on 136 with Adams out for 49 seven minutes before stumps after the pair had batted together for more than three hours after coming together at 86-3.

Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie collected all four wickets for the home team in Friday's first day's play.

He bowled Daren Ganga for 23 and trapped Sherwin Campbell lbw for 18 in the first session, then added the scalp of Wavell Hinds for 27 before getting Adams just before the close.

Lara almost missed the match because of a hamstring strain and was struck on the helmet by a Glenn McGrath bouncer shortly after arriving at the crease.

He was also dropped by Mark Waugh at slip on 73 but went on to reach his 15th Test century and sixth against Australia off just 140 balls.

Australia won the first two matches of the five game series to set a world record of 12 consecutive Test wins.

Scoreboard

West Indies (1st innings):

S. Campbell lbw Gillespie 18
D. Ganga b Gillespie 23
W. Hinds c Ponting b Gillespie 27
B. Lara not out 136
J. Adams c Gilchrist b Gillespie 49
M. Dillon not out 3
Extras (b8, lb6, nb4) 18
Total (for four wkts, 90overs) 274
Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-52, 3-86, 4-269
Bowling: G. McGrath 23-7-66-0 (3nb), J. Gillespie 26-9-56-4 (1nb), C. Miller 22-6-67-0, S. MacGill 18-4-71-0, R. Ponting 1-1-0-0

Mail Cricket Editor