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West Indies captain Brian Lara on Sunday hit a pulsating 91 to keep his team's hopes alive in the second Test after Ricky Ponting's first Test double century and Adam Gilchrist's unbeaten 101 had put Australia in a commanding position.

Lara was agonisingly close to his first Test century in his home country before he was bowled around his legs by Brad Hogg with two overs of the day's play remaining.

Lara, with fellow Trinidadian Daren Ganga playing an equally sparkling innings at the other end, helped West Indies to 186 for three at the close of the second day in their first innings in reply to Australia's 576 for four declared.

Ganga was not out on 69 with vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan on one.

Lara, whose best score on his home ground in a Test is 96, was bitterly disappointed and team officials said he was not in the right frame of mind for the post-match media conference.

Ponting, on the other hand, was delighted with his marathon effort, which spanned five sessions of play.

"I'm thrilled to have got there," he said.

"It was probably the toughest innings I've had to play -- eight and a half hours at the crease is something I haven't done before. It was hard work out there."

Lara and Ganga, who both made centuries in last week's first Test in Guyana, came together after the West Indies lost two quick wickets for 25 runs in the seven overs before tea.

Lara made a cautious start but got into his stride after Australia brought on leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, hitting him for a four and two sixes off successive balls.

In the next over, Lara hit Andy Bichel for successive boundaries, survived a loud lbw appeal, and then completed his half-century when he swept through the offside for two.

He faced 63 balls and hit five fours and two sixes.

Ganga was not far behind as he completed his half century, which included eight boundaries off 65 deliveries, two balls later.

Lara then greeted Hogg by hitting him for a six in his first over before fast bowler Jason Gillespie returned to slow the scoring and quieten the crowd in the last few overs of the day.

Lara, who appeared to be getting increasingly nervous as he approached what would have been his 20th test century, could not believe his dismissal, asking for a replay before heading back to the pavilion.

West Indies had been in dire trouble early when Devon Smith, playing his second Test, edged a Gillespie delivery and was caught behind by Gilchrist for a duck in the second over of the innings.

Wavell Hinds was then dismissed on the last ball before the tea interval, having made 20, when he edged Brett Lee to Matthew Hayden at first slip.

Australia declared on 576 for four shortly before tea with Ponting making 206, while Gilchrist made an unbeaten 101.

Ponting, in outstanding form after scoring 140 in the World Cup final last month and a hundred in the first Test in Guyana, reached his landmark by taking two runs off Vasbert Drakes in the third over after lunch.

Ponting, whose previous best was 197 against Pakistan in Perth in 1999, had been at the crease for 476 minutes, faced 344 balls, hit 23 fours and one six before reaching his 200.

He was finally out for 206 stumped by Carlton Baugh off Marlon Samuels.

Gilchrist reached his hundred, the eighth of his 41-match Test career, after driving Mervyn Dillon through the offside for two runs, having lofted him for a six through the onside earlier in the same over.

Gilchrist, the third Australian to make a century in the innings following Darren Lehman's 160 on Saturday, faced 105 balls and hit eleven fours and two sixes.

The pair took the score from 391 for three overnight to 517 at lunch as they handed out a severe punishment to the lacklustre three-man West Indies attack.

Pedro Collins bore the brunt, as he was smashed for 123 runs off only 25 overs while debutant Dave Bernard conceded 61 runs off eleven overs.

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What do you think about the story? Read what others have to say: Number of User Comments: 11 Sub: RE:comment on this article The aussies seem to be unstoppable at the moment. The way they are making merry in the middle is reminding me of the Clive's team ... Posted by sarat Sub: comment on this article I want to say to Mr Writer Ricky Ponting was not his first Test Double century and other one Lara was not his First test ... Posted by miraj Sub: Lara's Captaincy I find it so strange that Lara has not been criticized for the dismal performance of his bowlers in this series so far. The Australian ... Posted by Sanjay Sub: RE:comment on this article Yes it is Ricky Ponting's first double century. And regarding Lara, the writer is talking about making a century in his own country Trinidad. Westindies ... Posted by srini Sub: Australians dominance Current Australian team is no doubt is a great side. However, to compare them with Clive Lloyd's or Viv Richard's West Indies is injustice to ... Posted by Pradeep