Gayle calls the shots

Chris Gayle goes to three figures for the first time against Australia in a Test. He finished 155 not out, out of 284 for eight

Chris Gayle’s patient century gave West Indies hope of squaring the three-match series against Australia at the Adelaide Oval.

Gayle occupied the crease all day to reach 155 out of 284 for eight at stumps, giving the tourists a lead of 296 going into the final day.

The Windies captain has so far scored 128 more than any of his team-mates in the second innings, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul the best of three middle-order batsmen to fall for 20s.

Gayle will surely aim to set up a declaration early tomorrow on a wearing pitch to give his side hope of going to the Perth finale all square.

West Indies, beginning the day on 23 without loss, day took a conservative approach until the closing overs, adding 101 for five after tea having mustered only 160 in the first two sessions.

Gayle's streaky play during his first three innings of the series was nowhere to be seen with the tall left-hander rarely looking troubled during his first ton against Australia. His 271-ball innings featured 16 fours and a six.

Mitchell Johnson was unpredictable but ended the day strongly to finish with 4-85 while Doug Bollinger got the old ball to swing and picked up 2-36.

Gayle took two fours off Johnson in the first over, a trick Adrian Barath repeated off Bollinger three overs later.

Barath perished for 17 in unfortunate fashion when Gayle straight-drove a Nathan Hauritz full toss, which struck the off-spinner's boot en route to the stumps with Barath stranded.

Ramnaresh Sarwan gave Johnson his first breakthrough three overs later when feathered a bouncer behind on seven.

Mitchell Johnson removes Denesh Ramdin second ball for nought having just had Dwayne Bravo caught at gully for 22

Gayle and Chanderpaul added 72 either side of lunch before Bollinger trapped the veteran in front for 27 from 88 deliveries.

Gayle reached three figures with a sweep off Hauritz, adding 61 with Brendan Nash, who played similarly stubbornly to his predecessor.

But Shane Watson broke through soon after tea when he fired a yorker past the Australian-born left-hander on 24 from 70 balls.

Dwayne Bravo continued in the same vein until Johnson struck a double blow, having Bravo caught by Hauritz at gully for 22 and cleaning up Denesh Ramdin second ball for nought.

Gayle brought up his 150, from 260 balls, as he looked to push on with Darren Sammy.

Sammy, though, was undone by Bollinger whose reverse swing saw the right-hander caught by Ricky Ponting at second slip for 10.

Sulieman Benn received treatment after being struck on the foot by a Johnson yorker and skied the next ball to Peter Siddle coming in from mid-on to depart for five.

Ravi Rampaul was unbeaten on nought.