BRISBANE, Australia (CMC) – Adrian Barath rewrote the record books, becoming the youngest-ever West Indies player to score a Test century, but the Caribbean side imploded spectacularly on the third day of the opening Test against Australia, staggering to a painful innings and 65-run defeat at the Gabba yesterday.

The diminutive right-hander unleashed a scintillating 104, but the innings proved in vain as the Windies capitulated for 187 in their second innings, after being forced to follow on by 252 runs.

At 19 years, 226 days old, Barath eclipsed the 79-year-old record held by the legendary George Headley, who was exactly a year older when he battered an England attack to reach three figures in Bridgetown in 1930.

Barath also inducted himself into the pantheon of greats to have scored a century on debut, joining the likes of Headley, Lawrence Rowe and Gordon Greenidge as the 11th West Indies batsman to achieve the feat.

Oozing confidence even as his teammates buckled under the Aussie pressure, Barath stroked 20 glorious boundaries off 138 balls in a breathtaking innings that lasted a shade over three hours before he was lbw late in the evening with his side sliding towards defeat.

Showing a penchant for the off-side, he was severe on anything fractionally loose and cut and drove with an audacity and style that betrayed his maturity.

The opener reached his maiden Test half-century with a daring uppercut for four off fast bowler Peter Siddle and raised a deserved century with a full-blooded square drive off medium pacer Shane Watson.

“I just feel really great. This is better than a dream,” Barath beamed.

“It is a privilege to play for West Indies against Australia in Australia. It was really emotional for me, very exciting and I enjoyed every minute of it.”

He was the only bright spot in the Windies batting, however, as it again collapsed spinelessly in the face of disciplined Australian bowling led by seamer Ben Hilfenhaus, who finished with 3-20.

Only Dwayne Bravo with 23 showed any resistance and he was only one of four batsmen to reach double figures. He and Barath engineered a stay of execution for West Indies with a crucial stand of 66 for the fourth wicket after the tourists had stumbled to 39-3 thanks to Hilfenhaus’ opening salvo.

For the second time in the match, captain Chris Gayle was the first to fall, leg before wicket to the tall 26-year-old Tasmanian for one with the score on six in the third over of the innings after lunch.

Also for the second time in the match, Gayle challenged the decision, but it was yet again upheld by the third umpire.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA 1st Innings 480-8 dec (Katich 92, North 79; Bravo 3-118)

WEST INDIES 1st innings

(overnight 134-5)

*C Gayle lbw b Hilfenhaus 31

A Barath c Watson b Johnson 15

T Dowlin c Watson b Hauritz 62

S Chanderpaul lbw b Siddle 2

D Bravo c Watson b Johnson 0

B Nash c wkp Haddin b Watson 18

+D Ramdin c North b Johnson 54

S Benn c Siddle b Hilfenhaus 28

J Taylor c Katich b Hauritz 8

K Roach c Clarke b Hauritz 0

R Rampaul not out 1

Extras (b 1, lb 3, nb 5) 9

TOTAL (all out; 63 overs) 228

Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Gayle, 12.3 overs), 2-49 (Barath, 13.5), 3-58 (Chanderpaul, 16.5), 4-63 (Bravo, 17.3), 5-96 (Nash, 29.2), 6-174 (Ramdin, 47), 7-212 (Benn, 57.5), 8-221 (Taylor, 60.5), 9-221 (Roach, 61), 10-228 (Dowlin, 63)

Bowling: Hilfenhaus 16-6-50-2 (nb1), Siddle 13-4-51-1 (nb4), Johnson 19-4 -75-3, Watson 9-0-31-1, Hauritz 6-3-17-3.

WEST INDIES 2nd Innings (following on)

*C Gayle lbw b Hilfenhaus 1

A Barath lbw b Watson 104

T Dowlin b Hilfenhaus 4

S Chanderpaul c Katich b Hilfenhaus 2

D Bravo c Hilfenhaus b Hussey 23

B Nash lbw b Hauritz 7

+D Ramdin c wkp Haddin b Hauritz 16

J Taylor c Hilfenhaus b Watson 0

S Benn not out 15

K Roach c Hussey b Siddle 5

R Rampaul c wkp Haddin b Johnson 0

Extras (lb4, nb6) 10

TOTAL (all out, 52.1 overs) 187

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Gayle, 2.1 overs), 2-18 (Dowlin, 6.1), 3-39 (Chanderpaul, 10.2), 4-105 (Bravo, 27.2), 5-141 (Nash, 39), 6-154 (Barath, 42), 7-158 (Taylor, 43.1), 8-170 (Ramdin, 47), 9-187 (Roach, 52), 10-187 (Rampaul, 52.1)

Bowling: Hilfenhaus 7-3-20-3 (nb1), Siddle 10-3-41-1, Johnson 9.1-1-35-1, Watson 10-0-44-2, Hauritz 14-1-40-2 (nb5), Hussey 2-0-3-1.

Result: Australia won by an innings and 65 runs.

Series: Australia lead three-match series 1-0.

Man-of-the-Match: Ben Hilfenhaus.

Toss: Australia.

Umpires: Asad Rauf, I Gould;

TV – M Benson.