Clarke puts Aussies in command

A Michael Clarke century guided Australia into a commanding position at the close of the second day of the second Test.

Clarke, who missed the first Test due to the death of his fiancee's father, timed the ball beautifully throughout his innings of 110 as Australia declared on a commanding 479-7 at tea.

After Clarke left, caught by Xavier Marshall hooking Daren Powell, Australia compounded the misery for the hosts with Brett Lee smashing fifty off 76 balls.

Skipper Ricky Ponting declared at tea as he looked to wrap up the three-test series with a second successive victory.

Clarke then picked up two wickets in the final session as the West Indies threw away a good start to close on 125-3.

After Australia resumed on 259 for three, West Indies got the start they needed with two early wickets but they failed then to get into the tourists' middle order.

Opener Simon Katich, a century-maker on Friday, was unable to add to his 113 when he flicked a leg-side delivery from Jerome Taylor into the hands of West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.

Andrew Symonds, who has been in good form on tour, went in similar fashion for 18 off the bowling of Fidel Edwards.

Clarke, on 63, almost made it a hat-trick of leg-side catches for Ramdin when he tickled one off Taylor but this time the West Indian keeper had to stretch further to his left and was unable to hold on.

That proved to be an expensive miss for the hosts as Clarke, middling the ball regularly and driving with confidence on an easy track, added a further 47 runs before finally departing.

Brad Haddin made 33 in a good supporting innings before he was caught by Runako Morton as he checked a drive from a slower ball from Taylor.

After Clarke went, Lee (63 not out ) and Mitchell Johnson (29 not out) went on the attack with Lee, a run short of his best ever test score, bringing up his fifty with a huge six off Darren Sammy.

West Indies fielding was ragged at times and both Lee and Johnson were dropped late in the afternoon session.

There was another poor crowd at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium with barely a couple of thousand of supporters at the first test to be held at the venue.