BRIDGETOWN, May 4: Australia appeared to be heading for victory in the third Test on Sunday after fast bowler Brett Lee took two quick wickets to reduce the West Indies for 94 for two in their second innings.

Chris Gayle was not out 56 while Ramnaresh Sarwan was on 20 at tea on the fourth day with West Indies still 183 runs behind Australia’s mammoth first innings of 605 for nine declared.

The home side had been asked to follow on by Australia captain Steve Waugh after being bowled out for 328 in their first innings earlier in the day.

West Indies survived ten overs before lunch in their second innings as they reached 13 without loss but were in trouble in the first over after the break.

Gayle had a lucky escape when he was dropped by Andy Bichel at square leg off Lee but Devon Smith was out lbw three balls later for five. Shortly afterwards, Lee produced a searing yorker which struck the pad of Daren Ganga, who was adjudged lbw for six.

West Indies nearly got into further trouble shortly afterwards when Sarwan attempted a risky single. He was well short of the crease as Waugh rushed in from square leg but the Australian captain’s underarm throw missed the stumps.

Sarwan was elevated in the order to number four, the position usually taken by captain Brian Lara who has been reportedly suffering from a high temperature for the last two days.

West Indies gave little away about the health of Lara, who batted at number eight on Saturday after spending the morning in his hotel.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings) 605-9 declared (S.R. Waugh 115, R.T. Ponting 113, D.S. Lehmann 96, J.L. Langer 78, A.J. Bichel 71, A.C. Gilchrist 65).