Michael Clarke scored a fine 110 and then picked up two top-order wickets as Australia ended the second day of the second test against the West Indies on Saturday with a 354-run first innings lead.
Clarke's classy innings guided Australia to a commanding 479 for seven declared at St. John's, Antigua, and he then halted a spirited reply from the hosts by claiming the wickets of Xavier Marshall (53) and Runako Morton (2) as the West Indies ended the day on 125 for three.
The Australia vice-captain had missed the first test victory in Kingston due to the death of his fiancee's father and he had not played cricket for over two months.
Ricky Ponting's decision to declare was a positive move with the Australia skipper clearly wanting to get at the West Indies top order but on an easy track his team could have made plenty more runs with Brett Lee smashing an unbeaten 63 before Ponting called halt to the innings during tea.
It was another disappointing day for the West Indies after, with Australia resuming on 259 for three, they got the start they needed with two early wickets but then failed to wrap up the tourists' middle order.
Opener Simon Katich, a century-maker on Friday, was unable to add to his 113 when he flicked a leg-side delivery from Jerome Taylor into the hands of wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.
Andrew Symonds, who has been in good form on tour, went in similar fashion for 18 off the bowling of Fidel Edwards.
Clarke, on 63, almost made it a hat-trick of leg-side catches for Ramdin when he tickled one off Taylor but this time the West Indian keeper had to stretch further to his left and was unable to hold on to the ball.
That proved to be an expensive miss for the hosts as Clarke, middling the ball regularly and driving with confidence on an easy track, added a further 47 runs before finally departing.
Brad Haddin made 33 in a good supporting innings before he was caught by Morton as he checked a drive from a slower ball from Taylor.
After Clarke went, Lee and Mitchell Johnson (29 not out) went on the attack with Lee, a run short of his best ever test score, bringing up his 50 with a huge six off Darren Sammy.
West Indies fielding was ragged at times and both Lee and Johnson were dropped.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily June 2, 2008)