CAIRNS (Australia), July 26: A power-laden century by stocky left-hander Darren Lehmann boosted Australia towards a big total on the second day of the second cricket Test against Bangladesh here on Saturday.

With Lehmann clobbering an unconquered 156 after hitting a century in the first Test in Darwin a week earlier, the world champions ended the day with a commanding first innings 351 for three after dismissing Bangladesh for 295.

Lehmann, still seeking to cement a permanent spot in the strong Australian line-up, was in wonderful touch, completing his third century in Test ranks from 130 balls inside three hours.

At the close, he had struck 18 boundaries in his three and a half hours’ dominance before a crowd of 4,447 at Bundaberg Stadium.

Lehmann, who faced only 187 balls, figured in a crucial unbroken stand of 219 with skipper Steve Waugh, who was unbeaten with 74 and well on target to add another century to the three-figure knock he unfurled in Darwin.

Lehmann smashed 105 runs in the final session, becoming only the 46th player in the history of Tests to achieve 100 runs or more between off-field breaks.

He said it was late in the day when he realised 100 runs between tea and the close was a possibility.

“It didn’t come into focus until about four overs to go and I thought I’d have a crack at it and see what happens,” he said.

“It’s a little milestone and it’s nice to get, but I’m just pleased Steve and I got through the day unscathed.”

His fourth-wicket partnership with Waugh snatched the initiative from Bangladesh, who had done well to restrict Australia to 132 for three earlier in the day.

With a lead of 56 runs, the home side are now in a strong position to forge to victory over the remaining three days after wrapping up the first Test of the series by a whopping innings and 132 runs.

So dominant was Lehmann in his 14th Test he took only 50 balls to gallop from 100 to 150.

It was his third century-plus stand with his captain.

They were so completely in charge at the end of the day that they would have been able to put their sights on the extra 169 runs needed to reach the Australian all-time fourth-wicket record of 388 held by the legendary Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford.

Waugh was closing in on a 32nd Test century which would leave him only two short of Indian Sunil Gavaskar’s total of 34.

Earlier, Ricky Ponting (59) and Matthew Hayden (50) threw away chances to make hefty scores.

Hayden, after being troubled early in his innings, reached 50 off 88 balls, but was then bowled by off-spinner Sanwar Hossain.

Hossain found Hayden’s middle stump when the left-hander toppled over towards the off-side and the ball went behind his legs.

Ponting looked to be in superb form, bringing up his half-century from 70 balls, with a six.

The milestone also included 10 fours.

He fell to Hossain when he failed to get to the pitch of the ball and was comfortably caught in the outfield by Mohammad Ashraful.

Opener Justin Langer (one) was out in the seventh over of the innings when he edged a delivery from Mashrafe bin Mortaza to Javed Omar, who gathered the ball just above the grass.

At the start of the day, Australia needed only 13 balls to wrap up the Bangladesh innings after the tourists resumed on 289 for eight.