BRIDGETOWN (Barbados), May 3: Jason Gillespie claimed the wickets of opening batsmen Chris Gayle and Devon Smith in six balls to have the West Indies under pressure on the third day of the third Test at Kensington Oval here on Saturday.

The wickets would have added to the misery of West Indian skipper Brian Lara who was confined to bed at the team hotel having been diagnosed with suspected chicken pox.

Gillespie bowled Gayle for 71 and then in his next over removed Smith for 59 when he edged to wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist to leave the West Indies 142 for two in reply to Australia’s massive first innings of 605 for nine declared.

Gayle and Smith had shared in a 139-run opening stand before Gillespie struck in the 24th over of the day.

Gayle, who had been dropped on 50 by Gillespie diving forward at mid-on off leg-spinner Stuart MacGill early in the session, looked in ominous touch hitting to claim 12 boundaries.

But Gillespie got one to straighten and hit the top of off-stump to end his 189-minute knock.

The paceman claimed his 160th wicket in his 42nd Test when Smith, who had a pair of ducks in the second Test in Trinidad, shaped to drive a delivery coming into him and offered an outside edge to Gilchrist.

Vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan was elevated to number four in the batting order with Lara laid low.

It was understood that Lara, who celebrated his 34th birthday on Friday and is vitally important to the West Indies’ chances of salvaging the Test, would bat at some stage in the innings.

On Friday, Steve Waugh became the second highest-scorer in Test history and the first Australian to hit 30 Test centuries as his side made a huge first innings total.

The Australia captain overtook Indian Sunil Gavaskar’s total of 10,122 runs after reaching 60. Waugh, who made a record 157th Test appearance in the first match of the series, also overtook the late Don Bradman’s Australian record of 29 Test centuries.

Waugh made 115 while Andy Bichel compounded the West Indies suffering by hitting 71, his first Test half-century and Adam Gilchrist made 65 for the tourists.

In a typically solid and patient innings which included eight fours, Waugh took 314 minutes and received 233 balls before swinging at Jermaine Lawson and losing his off stump.

But it could have been very different. Waugh had made eleven when he lofted Vasbert Drakes to Sarwan at mid-off but the West Indies vice-captain failed to take a difficult chance.

Waugh and Bichel came together and added 124.

Bichel hit seven fours and two sixes in a big-hitting 71 off 71 balls before being caught by Lara at mid-wicket off a Banks full toss.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings):