ADELAIDE, Australia (CMC) — Sulieman Benn led consistent West Indies bowling, and helped them to gain a 12-run, first-innings lead over Australia in the second Test yesterday.

The beanpole left-arm spinner finished with five wickets for 155 runs from 53 overs, as Australia, replying to West Indies’ first innings total of 451, were dismissed for 439 in the final hour on a compelling third day.

Kemar Roach supported with three for 93 from 25.1 overs, as Shane Watson led the way for Australia with 96, Simon Katich scored 80, Michael Clarke made 71, and Brad Haddin finished 55 not out.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle and fellow opener Adrian Barath then confidently negotiated four overs, carrying West Indies to 23 without loss in their second innings when stumps were drawn to take the overall lead to 35.

Gayle struck consecutive boundaries off Mitchell Johnson in the first over to settle his nerves early, and Barath collected a pair of fours in the final over from Doug Bollinger to finish the day with a flourish.

Benn too — gaining appreciable turn and bounce from the hard, true Adelaide Oval pitch — flourished, after Australia continued from their overnight total of 174 without loss.

The old Kensington Oval in Benn’s native Barbados twice provided the backdrop for the last time spin bowlers have made such an impact for West Indies.

His marathon effort was rewarded with the first five-wicket haul in a Test from a West Indies spinner, since Gayle, bowling his uncomplicated, part-time off-spin, ushered Brian Lara’s side to a 276-run victory over Pakistan four years ago at Bridgetown.

And he was the first specialist spinner to achieve it since controversial current players’ chief Dinanath Ramnarine, twirling his leg-spin, collected five for 78 from 31.5 overs in a draw against South Africa eight years ago.

Benn made his presence felt from the second ball of the day, when he made the long-awaited breakthrough.

He bowled Shane Watson — who was eyeing a maiden Test hundred — without addition to his overnight score, when the opener swung and missed a fast, flat, and full length straight delivery.

The morning session continued to favour Benn and West Indies, when left-handed opener Simon Katich playing tentatively forward and was caught at forward short leg to leave Australia on 193 for two.

West Indies maintained the pressure on the Aussies with Gayle choosing to partner Benn at the very outset before making way for Roach, who was consistently clocked between 144 to 152 mph, and made life uncomfortable for all of the opposition batsmen.

The visitors succeeded in drying the runs up, and even Ricky Ponting, one of the finest batsmen in the World, found it hard to break free.

Roach and Benn starved Ponting with a succession of full-length deliveries moving back, and eventually the Australia captain cracked under the pressure, when he was caught at mid-wicket for 36 pulling a short delivery from the fast bowler.

Roach and West Indies also unsuccessfully challenged umpire Ian Gould’s verdict of “not-out” for an lbw appeal against Michael Clarke, when the Australia vice-captain was six, as the home team reached 255 for three.

After the interval, West Indies maintained their consistency and purpose, but were only rewarded with the scalp of Mike Hussey for 41, as Australia reached 346 for four at tea.

The visitors could not prevent Clarke from reaching his 50 from 93 balls with a drive through mid-on which Dwayne Bravo chased all the way to the line to limit the batsman to three off Ravi Rampaul.

By then, Roach had the unconvincing Hussey caught behind, when the left-hander top-edged a cut, following a resolute stand of 79 for the fourth wicket with Clarke.

In the final session, West Indies were able to knock Australia down every time it appeared the hosts were going to get on top of them.

Benn made the breakthrough in the second over after tea, when Marcus North was caught at leg-slip for 16 when he swept, and the ball rolled from the back of the bat.

A few overs later, he added the prized scalp of Clarke caught at slip edging loose and lazy drive at wide ball outside the off-stump.

Darren Sammy was crunched through cover for four by Johnson, but soon had the big left-hander caught at slip for seven to leave Australia wobbling on 377 for seven.

But West Indies met resistance, when Nathan Hauritz joined Haddin and put on 41 for the eighth wicket in about half-hour.

Roach made the difference this time, when he had Hauritz caught behind for 17, and Benn chimed again, when Peter Siddle was caught at gully for a duck in the space of seven balls to sink Australia to 419 for nine.

Benn and Roach then combined to run Bollinger out for a duck, after the Aussie batting bunny added 20 in equal time with Haddin to narrow the West Indies’ lead.

West Indies trail in the three-match series 0-1, after Australia won the opening Test by an innings and 65 runs inside three days last week at the Gabba.

The third and final Test at the Western Australia Cricket Arena (WACA) in Perth starts on December 16.