West Indies Daren Ganga celebrates after scoring a century against Australia on the third day of the Second Test in Port of Spain, Trinidad yesterday. This was Ganga's second test century having scored his first during the First Test in Guyana last week. - Reuters PORT OF SPAIN, (Reuters):
DAREN GANGA celebrated playing his first Test match at his home ground in Trinidad & Tobago with a century, while under-fire Marlon Samuels scored a half century as West Indies avoided the follow on in the second Test against Australia yesterday.
Ganga, the first Trinidadian to score a Test century at Queen's Park Oval for 20 years, made 117 as West Indies reached 408 all out, 168 runs behind Australia's first innings 576-4 declared.
Samuels, whose place in the side had been in danger after he scored nought and seven in the first Test, chipped in with 68 after Australia had taken two quick wickets after lunch.
The West Indies' bowlers continued their team's recovery when Vasbert Drakes had Justin Langer lbw for three in the sixth over of Australia's second innings.
Langer left the crease shaking his head following his second lbw dismissal of the match as Australia reached 31 for one at the close.
Ganga's century was the highlight of the day for the crowd, who on Sunday suffered the disappointment of seeing local hero Brian Lara miss out on his first home Test century by nine runs when he was dismissed for 91.
The 24-year-old, who did not score a century in his first 17 Test matches, has now scored hundreds in his last two. The last Trinidadian to make a century in Port of Spain was Larry Gomes against India in 1983.
Resuming on 186 for three overnight and still needing 191 to avoid a follow-on, Ganga and vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan chipped away at the total and 62 to the overnight score before Sarwan, who missed the first Test with a fractured finger, was yorked by Brett Lee for 26.
Ganga went on to complete his hundred off 185 balls when he swept leg-spinner Stuart MacGill through mid-wicket for his 15th boundary before lunch.
West Indies were back in trouble after lunch as Ganga was out without adding a run when he edged Lee to Matthew Hayden at first slip.
Debutant Dave Bernard, who hit Jason Gillespie for four in a positive start, had his off-stump removed as he was bowled between bat and pad by Gillespie having made seven to leave West Indies 300 for six - 77 runs short of the follow-on with four wickets standing.
But Samuels and debutante Carlton Baugh resurrected the innings with Samuels blasting Brad Hogg for two fours and a six in one over.
Samuels was dismissed after tea when he lofted MacGill to long-off and was caught by Bichel.
MacGill had earlier claimed his 100th Test wicket in his 21st match when Baugh hit his wicket after a lively 19.
