West Indies skipper Brian Lara and Daren Ganga launched a brave fightback against Australia in the first Test of the Frank Worrell series in Georgetown, Guyana, on Saturday.

The pair added 185 for the third wicket and steered West Indies, a daunting 252 behind from the first innings, to 381 for five at the close on the third day, now 129 ahead.

West Indies were also helped by a Devon Smith half century on his debut earlier in the day.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, on 26, and Vasbert Drakes, on 14, were at the crease at the close.

Lara, who on taking the field was jeered by some parts of the Guyanese crowd unhappy at the sacking of their compatriot Carl Hooper after the World Cup, struck 20 fours in his innings of 110 before hitting his own wicket off the bowling of Brad Hogg with the score on 295.

The left-hander attempted one of his familiar sweep shots but missed, the ball hit his elbow and flew away but he clipped the leg stump with his bat on the follow through.

Lara's fellow Trinidadian Ganga, whose place in the team has been in danger after some unconvincing recent displays, completed his maiden Test century in his first Caribbean series, shortly afterwards.

He survived an lbw appeal from Hogg on 96 after missing a looping full toss and three balls later drove the same bowler through the onside for four to complete his century.

Ganga was finally out for 113 when he hit a Lehman delivery straight into the hands of Brett Lee at short mid-wicket.

West Indies also lost Marlon Samuels for seven in the final session after he was caught at first slip by Ricky Ponting off the bowling of Stuart MacGill.

Solid Start

Smith had given the West Indies, resuming on 16 without loss overnight, a solid start as he made 62.

The 21-year-old lefthander from Grenada hit 13 fours off 88 balls before edging a Jason Gillespie delivery behind to Adam Gilchrist.

Lara and Ganga, who came to the crease after Wavell Hinds was lbw to leg spinner Stuart MacGill in what seemed another harsh decision by Sri Lanka umpire Asoka da Silva, kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Although the Australian bowlers managed to slow the Lara and Ganga partnership to 37 in the first hour after lunch, the West Indian pair broke loose before tea as they added another 85.

Ganga came back to life with two fours in the same Stuart over and in the next, he deflected Bichel's ball through the slips for four to bring up his 50.

Lara also found some fluent form, winning the crowd over with a flurry of fours to all parts of the ground and was given a rousing ovation when he swept a four through the covers to complete his 19th Test century.

Scores:

West Indies: 1st innings 237 (S. Chanderpaul 100, R.Jacobs 54 not out, A. Bichel 3-55)

Australia:      1st innings 489 (J. Langer 146, R. Ponting 117, A. Gilchrist 77, V. Drakes 5-93)

West Indies: 2nd innings (16 for no wkt overnight)

W Hinds        lbw           b MacGill         7

 D Smith       c Gilchrist  b Gillespie       62

D Ganga       c Lee         b Lehmann    113

B Lara          hit wkt       b Hogg          110

M Samuels     c Ponting  b MacGill         7

S Chanderpaul      not out                      26

V Drakes             not out                       14

Extras:    (b:6, lb:13, w:1, nb:22)             42

Total:        (5 wkts)                              381

Fall of wickets: (1-52, 2-110, 3-295, 4-303, 5-354)

Bowling:MacGill  27-4-127-2 (2nb 1w)

              Hogg      15-0-68-1  (3nb)

              Lee        14-4-57-0  (10nb)

              Gillespie 16-4-35-1 (1nb)

              Bichel     13-4-40-0 (2nb)

              Waugh     8-1-29-0 

              Lehmann   4-0-6-1

Overs: 97