Chris Gayle's 155 not out helped West Indies reach 284-8, a lead of 296 heading into the final day against Australia in Adelaide.
Skipper's century puts tourists in command of Adelaide Test
Second Test MatchAdelaideWest Indies 451 (D J Bravo 104, B P Nash 92, S Chanderpaul 62) & 284-8 (C H Gayle 155 no, M G Johnson 4-85) v Australia 439 (S R Watson 96, S M Katich 80, M J Clarke 71, B J Haddin 55 no, S J Benn 5-155)
West Indies captain Chris Gayle batted throughout the fourth day to help the tourists build a 296-run lead over Australia in the second Test.
Gayle finished on 155 not out as West Indies reached the close at 284-8 in their second innings at the Adelaide Oval.
The Jamaican left-hander struck 16 fours and a six in his 271-ball knock but was given little support from his team-mates, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul's 27 the next highest score.
Gayle's 11th Test hundred, but first against Australia, looked to be taking his side towards an unassailable position before the hosts hit back with five wickets in the final session to revive their own victory hopes heading into a potentially thrilling final day.
Eventful
West Indies began on the fourth morning on 23-0 and Gayle's opening partner Adrian Barath stuck around for an eventful eight overs, surviving an Australian referral decision for caught behind before being run out for 17.
Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz got his fingertips to a Gayle straight drive, and when the stumps were broken a napping Barath was backing up at the non-striker's end and was well short of his ground.
Australia used their last unsuccessful referral on an appeal for caught behind against Gayle but needed no replay system to send Ramnaresh Sarwan on his way.
Sarwan got a touch on a short delivery from Mitchell Johnson and was caught by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin down the leg side for seven.
Chanderpaul joined Gayle to see West Indies through to lunch on 95-2 but Doug Bollinger ended their 72-run, third-wicket stand in early afternoon.
The New South Wales left-armer trapped Chanderpaul lbw, the Guyanan stood his ground momentarily but eventually walked without asking for a video review of the incident.
Gayle went to three figures for the first time in seven Tests against Australia with a sweep for three off Hauritz (0-68) shortly before tea.
Collapse
West Indies reached the second interval on 183-3 and looked well placed to push on towards a declaration at some point on the final day.
The batsmen did up the aggression after tea, adding 101 runs in the session but also losing five wickets.
Shane Watson (1-15) bowled Brendan Nash for 24 to start the collapse before Johnson (4-85) ran through the middle order with three wickets.
The Queenslander accounted for Dwayne Bravo (22), Denesh Ramdin (0) and Sulieman Benn (5), while Bollinger (2-36) chipped in with the scalp of Darren Sammy (10) at the other end.
Gayle stood firm to the close and will resume on the final morning alongside Ravi Rampaul (0no) with all outcomes in the game still possible.
