Set a daunting 418 runs for victory, more than any team has ever achieved to win a match in Test cricket’s long history, West Indies closed on an encouraging 47 without loss but still a whopping 371 runs away from a goal of grand proportions.

Gayle was cautious and circumspect in carving out 19 not out off 61 balls while Smith showing signs of maturity, despite being only in his fourth Test, negotiated his 74 deliveries by presenting a straight bat in a solid and sensible display to be unbeaten on 21.

Earlier, the foundation for Australia’s eventual second innings total of 417, was laid by Matthew Hayden, who made a magnificent 177 and Justin Langer, with a fluent 117 as they featured in an opening partnership of 242 runs, their fifth double-century stand.

Captain Steve Waugh, who guided the lower order with a typically gutsy unbeaten 45 in two hours, was the only other Australian batsmen to score more than 20 runs in the innings.

With first innings destroyer Jermaine Lawson on the physiotherapist’s table, nursing a lower back muscle strain, fast bowler Mervyn Dillon came into his own and checked the Australian advance with final figures of four for 112 off 29 overs.

It was then left up to the West Indian left-handed openers to tackle the type of target, which has proved to be beyond Test cricketers, past and present.

After Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie failed to make an impact in the first ten overs, Gayle and Smith had to contend with some venomous and vicious deliveries in a hostile six-over spell from Brett Lee, ranging from 90 to 94 miles per hour.

But they survived unscathed to at least raise the hopes of six-million West Indians that one of the most treasured records in Caribbean cricket history -- that of never being whitewashed in a home series -- will not be given up on a platter.

That appeared to be the case when Australia resumed their second innings from 171 without loss and the left-handed duo Hayden and Langer completed centuries in progressing to their fifth double-century opening partnership.

That partnership was the bedrock of the Australian innings as the West Indian bowlers, led by Dillon, stuck manfully to their task and stormed back to take the last nine wickets for 144 runs.

Starting the day on 171 without loss, Langer and Hayden wasted little time in adding to their growing list of milestones.

Hayden, restarting on 79, raced to his 14th Test century in 199 minutes off 150 balls with 14 fours and a six as Australia gathered 63 runs off 13 overs in the first hour.

Langer was slower off the mark but after turning seamer Vasbert Drakes to the vacant fine leg for a boundary, he cut off-spinner Omari Banks to point for another four and then took a single off Drakes to reach his 15th Test hundred in 217 minutes off 142 balls with 15 fours and a six.

Langer, who also scored a century at the ARG on Australia’s last tour in 1999, added two more fours off Banks and Drakes before he fell in the first over from Gayle.

Gayle, who had replaced Drakes, induced an uncertain Langer to edge an off-break to slip where Brian Lara, who returned to his customary first slip position during this match, claimed a low catch.

Adam Gilchrist was promoted to the No.3 position in the batting order but made only six before he drove at Banks, got an edge and the ball ricocheted off wicketkeeper’s Ridley Jacobs’ body for substitute fielder Marlon Samuels to take the rebound.

Banks, who was roughed up by Langer and Hayden in his first spell of the day, struck again on the stroke of lunch when Samuels smartly caught Martin Love at leg-slip for two.

Australia went to lunch on 285 for three but the Windies were clearly handicapped by the absence of Lawson, who had captured a career-best seven for 78 in Australia’s first innings.

On resumption, Hayden went after Banks, hoisting him onto the roof of the Richie Richardson Stand at wide long on for six and following up with an on-driven boundary.

However, the period proved to the most productive one for the West Indies as Australia lost four wickets while adding a further 97 runs off 27 overs to go to tea on 382 for seven.

Darren Lehmann was bowled for 14 off the inside edge by Dillon, who also removed Andy Bichel without scoring, courtesy of a second slip catch by Smith and Lee, whose upper cut carried to third man where substitute fielder Sylvester Joseph came forward to hold a diving catch.

In-between, Hayden’s fine innings came to a close when he was run-out at the non-striker’s end, backing up too far and getting no response from Waugh, by a direct throw from another substitute, Carlton Baugh, who came charging in from backward point.

Hayden struck 22 fours and three sixes in his 260-ball knock which spanned five and three-quarter hours.

After tea, Waugh and McGrath added 29 runs for the last wicket, ensuring that the West Indies had to cross the psychological plateau of 400 runs if they are to achieve a miraculous victory.

The West Indies had claimed the second new ball on resumption after 94 overs and after Drakes forced Gillespie to deflect a lifting delivery to Lara at first slip, Dillon brought Lara into the picture again as he lured Stuart MacGill to edge an out-swinger to first slip.

It was one of the better efforts from Dillon, who took for 57 in 16 overs on either side of tea while Drakes and Banks collected two wickets each but were expensive, conceding 92 runs off 19 overs and 153 off 37 overs respectively.

The West Indies then made a solid start to their bid to create history and prevent Australia from becoming the first visiting team to complete a clean sweep in the Caribbean.

After a wayward McGrath delivery eluded Gilchrist to get the score under way, Smith caressed Gillespie off his legs to the backward square boundary.

Waugh replaced both McGrath and Gillespie after five overs each and brought on Lee and MacGill.

Gayle quickly lofted MacGill for a six onto the sightscreen while Smith swept him to the long leg boundary in an over, which yielded 13 runs.

Gayle had an escape on 13 with his total on 28 when he drove Lee powerfully into the covers but Waugh was unable to hold onto the stinging catch.

In the next over, Smith had to twice duck out of the way to avoid two 92 miles per hour bouncers while Gayle also left a 94 mph bouncer in the same over go through harmlessly to Gilchrist.

Waugh turned to ‘Breakthrough’ Bichel but he was met by Smith’s elegant offside to the long-off fence before another lightning bouncer by Lee with the first ball of the final over forced the umpires to put an end to the proceedings for the day.

It will now call for commitment and concentration from the West Indian batsmen to create their own history and deny Australia an elusive record.

AUSTRALIA 1st innings 240
West Indies 1st innings 240

Australia 2nd innings (o/n 171-0)

J.Langer c Lara b Gayle 111

M.Hayden run-out 177

A.Gilchrist c (sub.) Samuels b Banks 6

M.Love c (sub.) Samuels b Banks 2

D.Lehmann b Dillon 14

S.Waugh not out 45

A.Bichel c Smith b Dillon 0

B.Lee c (sub.) Joseph b Dillon 18

J.Gillespie c Lara b Drakes 5

S.MacGill c Lara b Dillon 0

G.McGrath c Ganga b Drakes 14

Extras: (b-4, lb-9, nb-12) 25

Total: (all out, 104 overs) 417

Fall of wickets: 1-242, 2-273, 3-285, 4-330, 5-338, 6-343, 7-373, 8-385, 9-388.

Bowling: Lawson 6-0-17-0, Dillon 29-3-112-4 (nb-11), Banks 37-5-153-2, Drakes 19-1-92-2 (nb-1), Gayle 13-1-30-1.

WEST INDIES 2nd innings
C.Gayle not out 19

D.Smith not out 21

Extras: (b-1, lb-4, nb-2) 7

Total: (without loss, 22.1 overs) 47