AFP

ROSEAU (DOMINICA) A WONDERFUL maiden Test century from Matthew Wade and a poor batting display by the West Indies left Australia in total charge at the end of the second day of the third and final Test on Tuesday.

Australia leads by 163 runs, after being dimissed for 328 and having reduced the West Indies to 165 for eight at stumps, and are set fair to seal the series having come into it with a 1-0 lead.

Wade’s innings of 106 had rescued Australia from a perilous looking overnight score of 212-7 - they had been 169-7 at one point on the opening day. Wade finally fell to the impressive Dominican-born spinner Shane Shillingford, who went on to snaffle Ben Hilfenhaus and finish with a career best 6-119 and make it a memorable experience for being the first Dominican to play a test on his home island.

It could have been so different had not Kemar Roach dropped Wade off his own bowling in his third over of the morning when the batsman had yet to add to his overnight score of 22.

The hosts did strike next ball, though, as a sharp piece of fielding by Kraigg Brathwaite ran out Mitchell Starc for a test career best of 35. Wade upped the tempo as he approached his maiden Test fifty and brought it up with a sweep shot that yielded two runs. This mark having been reached Wade went on the attack with the highlight consecutive sixes off Shillingford.

He took seven from the next over and brought up a wonderful century by driving Roach through the covers for four. It had taken 143 balls but the second fifty was struck in just 33 deliveries.

“There was definitely no intent to go out and try and slog sweep or get the run rate up,” said Wade.

“I just batted the way I thought I should have batted in that situation and backed the bloke at the other end.

“It takes me a little bit of time to get going but I can make it up towards the end.

Maybe not make it up like I did today but that’s generally my game plan.”