April 13, 2003	Sunday	Safar 10, 1424

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GEORGETOWN (Guyana), April 12: Opener Devon Smith hit a half century on his Test debut as West Indies, facing a huge task to haul themselves back into the first test against Australia, made a steady start to their second innings on Saturday.

The 21-year-old left hander from Grenada hit 13 fours as his 62 off 88 balls helped the West Indies, 252 runs behind after the first innings, reach 122-2 at lunch on the third day.

Smith finally fell shortly before the interval when he edged a Jason Gillespie delivery to wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist.

At lunch, West Indies captain Brian Lara was six not out while Daren Ganga, who is playing his 18th Test match but his first in the Caribbean, was unbeaten on 31.

Smith gave a quick taste of what was to come when he drove Gillespie past cover point for four off and hit the next delivery into extra cover boundary for four.

Brett Lee, in a wasteful spell which included three no balls in a single over, got similar treatment shortly afterwards. Smith drove the pace bowler straight down the ground for four and pulled a short delivery over wide mid-on for another boundary in the same over.

Smith and Wavell Hinds put on 52 for the first wicket before Hinds was out lbw for seven in the third ball of leg spinner Stuart MacGill’s first over.

It was another controversial decision by umpire Asoka de Silva of Sri Lanka as replays suggested the ball was missing leg stump.

Smith carried on to reach his 50 with successive fours off MacGill, the second a full toss which he smashed to the long-off boundary.

Australia captain Steve Waugh suffered a cut hand as he tried unsuccessfully to stop the shot and went off to have

six stitches in the injury with Ricky Ponting taking over as captain.

On Friday, Justin Langer and Ponting hit centuries as Australia piled up runs. Langer, who made 146, and Ponting, who struck 117, put on 248 runs for the second wicket.

West Indies survived five overs of spin in fading light to reach 16 without loss at the close.

Gilchrist, who scored 77, and Andy Bichel (39) added to the home team’s frustration with an important 85-run stand for the seventh wicket.

Fast bowler Vasbert Drakes prevented the Australian batsman from doing more damage as he took five wickets in an innings for the first time in a Test match, with both Ponting and Langer among his victims.

Waugh, making a world record 157th Test appearance, was out in the second over after tea when he was lbw to Mervyn Dillon for 25.