ADELAIDE, Australia (CMC) — Dwayne Bravo rode his fortune, and collected his third Test hundred to lead West Indies’ batting in the second Test against Australia yesterday, and stem the rising tide of verbal twaddle aimed at his side.

Bravo curbed his natural attacking instincts and struck a chancy 104, as West Indies, choosing to bat on a hard, true Adelaide Oval pitch, reached 336 for six in their first innings at the close on the opening day.

Ironically, Bravo’s previous Test hundred of 113 came against the same opponents four years ago.

He however, was one of three wickets that West Indies lost in the final session to weaken their position near the end of another long, hard day under an unrelenting South Australian sun.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored a valuable 62 before he was a victim of the controversial Umpire Decision Review System, and Denesh Ramdin failed again to fortify his place in the side as wicketkeeper/batsman when he fell cheaply.

Brendan Nash joined Darren Sammy, and they batted for close to an hour before stumps were drawn to put on 63 — unbroken — for the seventh wicket.

Nash was returning to the crease, after he was struck on his right forearm ducking into a short, rising ball from Mitchell Johnson, and retired hurt during lunch on 20.

The little left-hander was not out on 44, the same score as Sammy, whose lusty hitting produced five fours and two sixes in the closing stages that put the Australians on the defensive.

Doug Bollinger, playing in his second Test, following an 11-month spell in the cricket wilderness, captured two wickets for 42 runs from 15 overs, and Shane Watson had identical figures from 11 overs.

Bravo lofted off-spinner Nathan Hauritz straight for his 12th four to reach his milestone from 147 balls.

But he was dropped twice on 46 – a difficult return chance to Peter Siddle, and an edge that ricocheted from ‘keeper Brad Haddin’s pad off Hauritz to slip fielder Michael Clarke.

The 26-year-old all-rounder then added insult to injury, when he lofted Siddle for his seventh boundary to reach his 50 from 91 balls.

Bravo was dropped for a third time on 69, when he top-edged a hook at a short ball from Siddle, Shane Watson muffed a chance inside the deep square leg boundary, and palmed the ball over the boundary for a six.

Bravo had yet another reprieve on 104 before he was dismissed, when he successufully challenged umpire Mark Benson’s verdict for an lbw off Watson.

Next over, Bravo was bamboozled, when he played down the wrong line to his 156th ball from Hauritz, and was bowled.

Bravo added 116 for the fourth wicket with Chanderpaul to transform the complexion of the West Indies’ innings.

Left-hander Chanderpaul spent four hours at the crease before he was dubiously adjudged caught behind off Watson on a successful referral.

TV replays were examined, and none were conclusive, particularly Hotspot which didn’t show any contact, but video umpire Asad Rauf adjudged Chanderpaul out.

After lunch, Chanderpaul had an anxious wait on 38, when Australia unsuccessfully challenged a “not-out” verdict from Benson on a caught behind appeal, much to the consternation of the bowler and Ponting.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES 1st Innings

*C Gayle c wkpr Haddin b Bollinger 26

A Barath c Hussey b Bollinger 3

R Sarwan c Clarke b Johnson 28

S Chanderpaul c wkpr Haddin b Watson 62

B Nash not out 44

D Bravo b Hauritz 104

+D Ramdin b Watson 4

D Sammy not out 44

Extras (b4, lb8, w5, nb4) 21

TOTAL (6 wkts, 85 overs) 336

S Benn, R Rampaul, K Roach to bat

Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Barath), 2-39 (*Gayle), 3-84 (Sarwan), 3-119* (Nash, retired hurt), 4-235 (Chanderpaul), 5-239 (+Ramdin), 6-273 (Bravo); NB: Nash returned at 6-273

Bowling: Bollinger 15-2-42-2 (nb3); Siddle 19-3-86-0; Johnson 18-2-69-1 (w1); Hauritz 22-0-85-1; Watson 11-2-42-2

Toss: West Indies

Umpires: M Benson, I Gould, Video replays: A Rauf, Reserve: B Oxenford

Match referee: C Broad