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Day 3: Campbell's ton lifts Windies

BRIDGETOWN - When the third Test of the Cable and Wireless series comes to an end tomorrow, Australia, as was expected at the end of the first day's play, may be the winners. The contest, however, is far from over. The West Indies are in with a chance.

Stretched across the rack at the end of the second day when they were writhing at 80 for four in reply to Australia's commanding 490, their dream of victory threatening to become a nightmare, the Windies, thanks to a glorious seventh-wicket partnership of 153 off 44 overs in 163 minutes between opening batsman Sherwin Campbell and Ridley Jacobs and a furious burst of fast bowling by Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, dominated yesterday's third day to leave themselves with a chance, not only of drawing the game, but also of winning it.

At stumps, the score was, Australia 490 and 18 for two, the West Indies 329.

With two days to go, with Australia in front by 179 with eight wickets in hand, and with the West Indies batting last on a pitch on which the ball has started to keep low, the betting is still on the tourists.

The odds, however, have shortened, and even if they fail to save the game or to snatch victory, the bumper crowd will long remember the grim determination and then the wonderful strokes of Campbell, who, in a crafty display, scored a splendid 105 before he was eighth out at 265, the courage and also the sparkling strokes of Jacobs, who looked invincible before he fell for 68 at 251 for seven to end the face-saving partnership and the fire of Walsh and Ambrose who, in eight hostile overs, reminded the Aussie batsmen that they were in the lion's den - the happy hunting ground of West Indian fast bowlers

Coming together with the home team staggering at 98 for six and still 198 away from saving the follow-on, Campbell, the dapper right-hander from Barbados, and Jacobs, the stocky left-hander from Antigua, stepped into the breach, and in contrasting styles set about keeping out the marauding Australians before, in one accord, the moved into the attack and thrilled the Palm Sunday gathering with a glittering array of strokes.

In chalking up his third Test century following his 208 versus New Zealand at Kensington in 1996 and his 113 versus Australia at Brisbane in the 1996/97 series Campbell, who stood at one end while six of his colleagues were shot down, battled for 366 minutes, faced 271 deliveries, and but for two off the outside edge, stroked 16 delightful boundaries before, 14 minutes after tea, he went onto the backfoot, cut at pacer Jason Gillespie, and was caught by captain Steve Waugh at gully.

As he walked away, Campbell shook his head in disappointment. The stroke which ended his innings was the one he used to cane the bowlers after lunch when after resuming on 23, after scoring only 20 runs in the morning session - including a mere five in the first hour, he stroked and smashed 11 boundaries in his last 62 runs.

In ticking off his third half-century, Jacobs, who, following his performance in South Africa, is now an expert at fighting with his back against the wall, batted for 163 minutes, faced 126 deliveries, and blasted nine boundaries before, with his first Test century looking on the cards, with the target to save the follow-on getting nearer and nearer, and with Australia turning to their support bowlers after their big guns had failed to remove him, he attempted to force medium-pacer Ricky Ponting off the backfoot and sliced a catch to Mark Waugh at gully.

As they did to Campbell later on, the fans gave him a standing ovation - and he deserved every handclap, not only for his part in the first hour after lunch when he and Campbell, as Brian Lara and James Adams did at Sabina Park in the second, brought memories of the good old days of West Indies batsmanship by ripping the attack of right-arm legspinners Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill, pacers Glen McGrath and Gillespie for 68 runs, not only for his four of the 11 boundaries during that scintillating display, but also because he was the batsman who threw down the gauntlet to Australia as soon as he had arrived.

With the West Indies losing overnight batsman Carl Hooper, 13 overnight, for 23 at 98 or five - the right-hander going onto the backfoot and steering a short delivery from McGrath to Warne at first slip, and Adams for zero at 98 for six, with the ship sinking and the dream becoming a nightmare, and with Campbell playing and missing, Jacobs hooked McGrath to the long-leg boundary to get off the mark.

Campbell and Jacobs were well supported by Nehemiah Perry, 24, Ambrose 28 not out, and Walsh 12, who, with 36 runs still needed to save the follow-on when Campbell was dismissed, rose to the challenge as the Windies tail wagged for the first time in a long while.

With the shadows spreading across the field, Walsh came out, ran in from the south, and with the second delivery sent left-hander Mark Elliott packing - caught by wicketkeeper Jacobs for zero at zero for one. Ambrose made it 12 for two in the sixth over when he trapped left-hander Justin Langer leg before wicket for one.

Day 4: Lara holds the key

BRIDGETOWN - THE West Indies and Australia were locked in an exciting battle for supremacy when the penultimate day of the tie-breaking third Test of the Cable and Wireless series ended at Kensington Oval yesterday.

After four days of pulsating action, the scoreboard read, Australia 490 and 146, the West Indies 329 and 85 for three with Adrian Griffith on 35, captain Brian Lara on two, and with Australia on one - after winning the first Test by 312 runs, with the West Indies on one - after winning the second by 10 wickets, and with both teams going into today's final day with a chance of victory, the Test match appears heading for a glorious climax.

The odds, however, remain in favour of a victory for Australia.

When the West Indies started their hunt for the victory target of 308 in the last innings of the match, the odds still favoured Australia winning it. When the West Indies, with Sherwin Campbell in full cry, were sailing along at 72 without loss, it was nicely balanced. When, however, they lost Campbell, Dave Joseph, and night watchman Pedro Collins for six runs to fall to 78 for three, it was back in Australia's favour.

The pitch, however, despite predictions that it would have been difficult for batting by the fourth day, played quite well, Campbell batted with authority before he was leg before wicket to pacer Glen McGrath for 33 at 72 for one, although Griffith, on 11 at 41, edged a no-ball from Jason Gillespie to wicketkeeper Ian Healy, he was reasonably solid, and with Griffith still alive, with Lara still there, with Carl Hooper, James Adams, and Ridley Jacobs to come, plus Nehemiah Perry, the West Indies, even though the odds are against it, could spring to life and win the game.

On top in the first hour of the contest, the West Indies have been playing catch-up since mid-way that first day when Australia grabbed the initiative through a memorable fifth-wicket partnership of 281 between captain Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.

What has gone, however, is gone. Today is the moment of truth.

With the West Indies now needing 223 runs to win the match, with Australia needing to take seven wickets for at least two runs short of that if they are to win it, this is the time for West Indies to prove that they are really on the revival trail, and for Australia's bowlers, especially pacer McGrath and right-arm legspinner Shane Warne, to demonstrate their class.

After looking down the barrel at 98 for six in their first innings, the West Indies, thanks to a timely seventh-wicket partnership of 153 between Campbell and Ridley Jacobs, staged a wonderful recovery on the third day, and then, with fast bowlers Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose hinting of things to come with a fiery eight overs during which they picked up two wickets at the tail-end of the day's action, returned yesterday with a vengeance and left themselves in with a chance - thanks mainly to the evergreen 36-year-old Walsh.

After sounding the charge and providing the inspiration by removing Mark Elliott for zero at zero for one in the first over of Australia's second innings on the previous afternoon, Walsh took care of Mark Waugh, and then, with the Aussie tailenders stretching the lead, he removed the last three batsmen to finish with five for 39 off 17.1 overs to make it 21 wickets in the three Tests (seven per match) and to carry his career total to 418 - a mere 16 behind Kapil Dev's world record 434.

With Australia resuming on 18 for two and boasting a lead of 179, and with Michael Slater stroking the ball confidently, the new-look West Indies, fighting with the spirit of one for all and all for one, and in the manner which reminded of their glory days, struck early when Slater, going for a second run to thirdman, was brilliantly runout by Campbell who hit the stumps with wicketkeeper Jacobs struggling to reach them.

That was 35 for three, when Ambrose bowled night watchman Gillespie for 14, it was 46 for four, and then Walsh trapped Mark Waugh leg before wicket for three, it was 48 for five after 69 minutes.

At that stage, the Windies were on top, and although Steve Waugh and Ponting eased the pressure, somewhat, on the Australians with a 15-run partnership, when left-arm pacer Collins, bowling over the wicket, removed Steve Waugh for 11, it was 73 for six. In the first over after lunch when he sent Healy packing, it was 81 for seven and their 97 in 1984 - their lowest score at Kensington - appeared far away.

Day 5: Wonderful West Indies

BRIDGETOWN - It was singing and dancing in the cool afternoon at Kensington Oval yesterday as the West Indies, led by a glittering and magnificent innings from Brian Lara, squeezed out a brilliant, unforgettable victory over Australia in the third Test of the Cable and Wireless series.

In a thrilling finish to one of the most exciting matches ever at Kensington, the West Indies pipped Australia by one wicket after tea when, with the score tied, Lara slipped his right foot forward and smashed the first delivery from pacer Jason Gillespie to the extra-cover boundary.

In a sight to remember, Lara dashed away and jumped into the arms of a delighted and excited fan as thousands of supporters raced across the ground towards the pavilion - many stopping, kneeling and kissing the pitch.

Final score: Australia 490 and 146, the West Indies 329 and 311 for nine with captain Lara undefeated on 153, Courtney Walsh on zero after facing five deliveries, and with James Adams and Curtly Ambrose chipping with two invaluable innings of 38 and 12 respectively.

In winning the Test match labelled the moment of truth after the results at Queen's Park and Sabina Park, the West Indies grabbed a 2-1 lead in the four-match contest to leave themselves only a draw away from winning the series and regaining the Frank Worrell Trophy which they lost in 1995 when Australia defeated them for the first time in 15 years.

Going into the fifth and final day's play at 85 for three, needing another 223 runs to win with seven wickets in hand, and with the odds against them, the Windies, starting with Lara on two and Adrian Griffith on 35, were on the run at 105 for five before Lara, at his glorious best, and Adams, stroking the ball and batting as his fans always wished he would, stepped in and swept the home team to within sight of victory with a classy sixth-wicket partnership of 133 off 41 overs in 170 minutes.

In a match of pulsating action from start to finish, the Windies were again on the run at 248 for eight before Lara, in the greatest innings of his life, and Ambrose, in a stubborn, never-say-die approach, pulled them to within six runs of victory with a ninth-wicket partnership of 54 in 82 minutes and 17 overs.

In a grand display which lasted for 355 minutes and 258 deliveries, Lara, the world record holder of 375, the Prince of Port of Spain, and now the King of the Caribbean, blasted and stroked one six and 19 fours, while Adams stroked five boundaries in an innings in which he faced 125 deliveries before, with victory dancing before his eyes, and two deliveries after a superb on drive, he played forward to the wily and persistent McGrath and was bowled off stump at 238 for six by a delivery which pitched on a perfect length, cut off the seam, and flashed past the outside edge of a defensive bat.

At that stage, the match was delicately poised. When, however, McGrath, with three wickets in 12 deliveries, removed Ridley Jacobs for five and Nehemiah Perry with successive deliveries - both leg before wicket, Australia were back on top.

At 248 for eight, victory for the West Indies was 60 runs away and despite the form and the mood of Lara, when Ambrose walked out, with only Walsh to come, Kensington was like a graveyard.

Lara, however, is a man who believes that all things are possible, and with Ambrose, who faced only 39 deliveries, willing to stand and watch in between presenting a broad, defensive bat when called upon to do so, he backed his skill, took over completely, and brought the crowd to life - not only with every boundary stroke, but also each time he out-foxed the Australians and kept Ambrose away from the strike.

After trailing throughout most of the match, after such a glorious fight-back, and after such a captain's knock, the West Indies deserved the sweet taste of victory - and none more than Lara who played one of the greatest innings ever in one of the greatest Test matches ever.