ST JOHN'S, Antigua (AP):

MICHAEL CLARKE cracked an attractive 110 and grabbed two cheap wickets as Australia dominated the West Indies on day two yesterday of the second Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Australia, overnight 259 for three, powered to 479 for seven declared at tea on the back of Clarke's seventh Test century and a boisterous unbeaten 63 from Brett Lee.

The West Indies reached 125 for three at stumps with Clarke claiming two for seven with his underrated left-arm spin.

Opener Xavier Marshall top scored with a stroke-filled 53. Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan (32 not out) and veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul (five not out) carried the home team to the end.

Clarke, who missed the first Test as he supported his fiancee, Lara Bingle, through the death of her father, Graham, back in Australia, admitted it was an emotional innings.

"A couple (of tears). Obviously it was very emotional," Clarke said.

hard to leave family

"It was hard to leave the family back at home, but I had their full support and I know they all wanted me to come over here and do my best," he said.

"I've been so keen to get over here and be part of the West Indies tour. It's a fantastic place to come and play."

The West Indies took the second new ball at the start of the day and were buoyed with the early dismissals of first-day centurion Simon Katich and Andrew Symonds.

Katich (113) failed to add to his overnight score before tickling a legside catch to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin off Jerome Taylor.

Symonds (18) was also strangled down the legside off Fidel Edwards as Australia slipped to 296 for five.

But Clarke, who resumed on 38, continued to play some gorgeous strokes off the front foot as he closed in on three figures.

He was dropped by Ramdin off Taylor to another leg glance when on 63 but the let-off did not curb his strokeplay.

He and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin shared a stand of 64 before Taylor removed Haddin to the third ball after lunch.

Haddin, who compiled 33 off 55 balls with six fours, chipped a slower ball to mid-on.

Clarke found another sound ally in Lee and brought up his century midway through the second session with his 12th boundary off 168 balls.

The New South Welshman eventually perished when he top-edged a pull at Daren Powell to forward square leg at 414 for seven after batting 283 minutes and facing 248 balls.

But his dismissal failed to stall the Aussies as Lee and left-hander Mitchell Johnson took advantage of a jaded West Indies team.

The pair added 65 unbroken off 55 balls before the declaration came at tea.

batsmen dropped

Both batsmen were dropped off Darren Sammy's medium pace. Lee, on 28, was missed at mid-off by Edwards, while Johnson, on 17, was dropped by Dwayne Bravo at deep extra cover.

Lee hit eight fours and a six off 82 balls. Johnson's 29 not out included three fours off 26 balls.

The West Indies reply began positively with a volley of breathtaking strokes from Marshall.

But left-hander Devon Smith (16) departed at 55 for one when he slapped Johnson to point.

Marshall completed his maiden Test 50 before falling to Clarke's spin late in the day.

The 22-year-old right-hander hit eight fours off 69 balls, but was plumb leg before playing no stroke to an arm ball.

Clarke added the wicket of Runako Morton (two), who lofted an ungainly swing to midwicket in the next over as the Aussies ended the day on top.