When stumps were drawn, the visitors were a formidable 377 for three with the other not out batsman being the left-handed Darren Lehmann on 44.

There were also half-centuries for opener Justin Langer (60) and Martin Love (56) as the Australian top-order prospered on a placid pitch as the Carib Beer XI bowlers toiled with little success.

The veteran Aussies captain, who is aiming to return his team to the number one Test ranking and the left-handed Lehmann, has so far shared an unfinished fourth-wicket partnership of 112 in 121 minutes after coming together at tea, following the dismissal of Love on the stroke of the interval.

The reliable Waugh, who was forced to share the day with Hayden, has so far struck 14 fours and a six in 215 minutes and expressed delight at the end of the day in his early form.

Compact left-hander Langer had earlier given an indication of what was to follow when he steered the first delivery of the day from fast bowler Adam Sanford to the third man boundary for four.

The openers looked untroubled by the new ball pair of Sanford and Marlon Black, both pulling and driving with consummate ease and raising the 50-run partnership in the first hour of play.

The trend continued with the introduction of the spinners, with Langer reaching 50 with two well-executed boundaries in the same over off left-arm spinner Dave Mohamed, the first through covers and the other through wide mid-on.

Langer celebrated the landmark by thumping Mohamed through extra covers for four, the boundary also raising the century partnership in 91 minutes off 20.1 overs.

Mohamed however got revenge when Langer, in attempting to sweep a full-length delivery, was trapped lbw at 105 for one, his 60 including nine fours in 95 minutes off 61 balls.

Langer got to his half-century shortly after, hoisting off-spinner Omari Banks over long off and followed this up with a straight six that sailed over the sightscreen at the northern end of the ground. Another four through midwicket off the tall off-spinner, forced skipper Sylvester Joseph to replace the young off-spinner who had conceded 28 runs in his first three overs.

At lunch, Hayden was on 70 and Love two with Australia 133 for one.

Hayden, who upped the tempo after the interval survived a lucky escape on 84 when Banks completely misjudged a catch on the deep midwicket boundary off the bowling of Mohamed, the ball passing through his hands as he made a vain attempt.

Hayden made full use of the opportunity to reach his 60th first class century and the first for an Australian on tour when he punched Sanford through mid-on for his 12th four.

Throwing caution to the wind, Hayden failed to beat a leaping Black at wide mid-off, the tall fast bowler taking a brilliant catch to his right, off the bowling of Mohamed, to see the back of the stocky left-hander for a fine 102 at 185 for two. His innings include 12 fours and two sixes in 153 minutes off 122 balls. Hayden’s dismissal ended a 75-run second-wicket partnership in 56 minutes with the wristy Love, who was also stroking the ball well.

Waugh, who joined Love, wasted no time in getting off the mark, upper-cutting Sanford over third man for six - a sign of what was to follow.

The elegant Love reached 50 with a four through midwicket off Banks but on the stroke of tea got a faint edge from the under-bowled off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine to depart for 56, which included six fours in 142 minutes off 115 balls. His 85-run third-wicket partnership with his captain took just 84 minutes.

That was to be the Carib Beer XI’s last success of the day, as Waugh and Lehmann then took centre stage.

Waugh, who was 40 at tea, reached 50 with a blazing cover drive off Banks, his half-century containing six fours and a six in 97 minutes and got to three figures just before the close.

The Australian captain celebrated his 74th first class hundred with a rasping cover drive off Sanford.

Lehmann has so far struck three fours in 121 minutes. Mohamed has figures of two for 107 from 22 overs and Deonarine, who surprisingly only bowled two overs, has one for three.

Australia rested vice-captain Ricky Ponting and ace speedster from their squad that is down to 13, following the forced withdrawals of middle-order batsman Damien Martyn and leading pacer Glenn McGrath.

AUSTRALIA first innings
J. Langer lbw Mohamed 60

M. Hayden c Black b Mohamed 102

M. Love c wkpr Baugh b Deonarine 56

S. Waugh not out 106

D. Lehmann not out 44

Extras: (b-2, lb-2, nb-3, w-2) 9

Total: (for three wickets, 90 overs) 377

Fall of wickets: 105, 180, 265,