Third Test, Perth, day two (close):
Australia 520-7 dec v West Indies 214-2
Dates: 16-20 December Start time: 0230 GMT Coverage: Score updates plus daily reports on BBC Sport website. Also live on Sky Sports
Match scorecard

Gayle's quick-fire ton was his 12th in Tests

West Indies captain Chris Gayle struck the fifth-fastest century in Test history on an incident-packed day two of the third match against Australia.

But the tourists remain on the back foot after Australia declared on 520-7.

Mike Hussey (82), Marcus North (68) and Brad Haddin (88) all weighed in, before Gayle smashed 102 from just 70 balls as the Windies closed on 214-2.

The game threatened to boil over after a collision between Sulieman Benn and Mitchell Johnson led to a serious row.

The collision, which occurred when Johnson headed to the non-striker's end, prompted a war of words between Haddin and Benn.

Two balls later, Haddin prodded the ball back to the spinner and a frustrated Benn shaped to shy at the stumps, causing the batsman to flinch.

Haddin's response was to come down the pitch and confront Benn and things turned more unsavoury when Johnson came in from the side to push the West Indian, forcing umpire Billy Bowden to step in.

Fastest Test hundreds IVA Richards (WI) 56 balls AC Gilchrist (Aus) 57 balls JM Gregory (Aus) 67 balls S Chanderpaul (WI) 69 balls CH Gayle (WI) 70 balls

The incident has seen the Australian pair hit with a level one charge of bringing the game into disrepute, while Benn received a more serious level two charge and could face a suspension.

It was the second unpleasant incident in two days of play after Australia captain Ricky Ponting had a run-in with Dwayne Bravo on the opening day, resulting in more pushing.

The incident between Haddin and Benn appeared to fire up Gayle, who tore into the Australia bowling, crashing nine fours and six sixes in making his 12th Test century before being dismissed by Doug Bollinger.

The fastest Test century was scored by fellow West Indian Viv Richards, who reached three figures in just 56 balls against England at St John's in 1986.

Gayle said there was no plan to specifically attack Johnson for his part in the confrontation with Benn, although it looked that way, with the Australia paceman removed from the attack after four overs cost 34 runs.

"It wasn't anything personal to be honest with you," Gayle said. "If you watched the deliveries I got, they were balls to be hit to the boundary, they were looseners."

North revealed his team had tried a variety of ploys before Gayle finally holed out to Shane Watson at point.

606: DEBATE I hope the match referee takes some stern action against Johnson and bans him for a Test or two Swamy

"We tried a few different plans and one towards the end kind of worked where we just tried to bowl a little bit shorter to him and get one to hold up," North said.

"But it's fair to say we were a little bit off the mark at the start of our bowling innings. We probably weren't as disciplined as we should have been and a batter of that quality and that form takes advantage of that."

Gayle put on 136 for the opening wicket with Travis Dowlin, who made a more patient 55, before Ramnaresh Sarwan (42 not out) and Narsingh Deonarine (10 not out) guided the tourists through to stumps.

Australia had resumed on 339-3 and Mike Hussey was caught behind off Ravi Rampaul after adding just one to his overnight total of 81.

North pushed a full toss from Deonarine straight back to the bowler just before lunch having made 68, and after the interval Haddin and Johnson cut loose.

Haddin hit two sixes and 11 fours in his 88, while Johnson hit a six and three fours in his 35 before Ponting opted for the declaration.

Haddin's wicket came in the first over 21-year-old fast bowler Kemar Roach bowled with the wind on day two, having only bowled four overs with it on Wednesday, when he had Shane Watson caught behind.

Fifteen Australia batsmen have reached half-centuries but failed to reach three figures in the three-match series, which Australia lead 1-0.

In this game alone, Watson (89), Simon Katich (99), Hussey (82) and North (68) have failed to make 100 when well placed.

Australia's total was the second highest in which no player reached three figures. India made 524-9 against New Zealand in Kanpur in 1976 without anyone making a hundred.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version