ADELAIDE, Australia (CMC) — West Indies jolted fancied Australia yesterday but the home side fended off a stirring last day effort from the Caribbean side to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy with a draw in the second Test.

Set 330 to win, the Australians were rocked when West Indies — led by Dwayne Bravo — snared a flurry of mid-afternoon wickets before Australia held on to reach 212 for five when the game was called off at the Adelaide Oval.

“We were a better team for five days but we could not put up a result,” West Indies captain Chris Gayle said.

Australia will take an unbeatable 1-0 lead into the third and final Test starting on December 16 in Perth. Showing a complete reversal of form after a lopsided innings defeat — inside three days — in the first Test at the Gabba, West Indies were competitive here from day one.

They had earned a fighting 12-run first-innings lead when they restricted the home side to 439 all out in reply to 451 and Gayle’s magnificent unbeaten century ignited their second innings effort to 317 all out that left Australia the testing last-day target.

The combative medium pacer Bravo struck the first blow for West Indies to remove Simon Katich (21) at 33 for one.

The left-hander’s lofted drive was smartly held by Adrian Barath at extra cover, the rookie teenager tumbling to his left to clutch a sharp chance.

Gayle introduced in-form spinner Sulieman Benn after just five overs and fast bowler Kemar Roach generated very lively pace — a few deliveries in excess of 150 kilometres per hour — but the Aussies resisted well and were measured in their approach before lunch.

Benn, who grabbed a career-best five for 155 in the first innings, conceded just four runs from seven overs with four maidens in his spell before lunch, which was taken with the Aussies on 62 for one.

West Indies wasted a run-out opportunity soon after the lunch break when Bravo’s throw from backward point was delivered to the wrong end while Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson were stranded mid-pitch in a mix-up.

The Caribbean side had some quick redemption in the following over, celebrating the dismissal of the accomplished Ponting, who boasts a healthy Test average of 55.88.

Pacer Ravi Rampaul bowled Ponting (20) off the inside edge as the Australian skipper tried a forcing cut shot.

It became 114 for three approaching tea when Bravo held a magnificent catch to dislodge Watson for 48.

Watson pulled a delivery from Darren Sammy and the athletic Bravo moved several metres rapidly to his left at mid-wicket and flung himself to clutch the ball inches off the turf.

On 132 for three at tea, the Australians required another 198 runs — from a minimum 34 overs — to win and Bravo swung the game further in the Caribbean side’s direction with a two-wicket burst that unquestionably dashed any hope the Australians were harbouring of pressing for a victory.

Left-handers Michael Hussey and Marcus North were both undone by deliveries angled across them.

In the first over of the final session, Bravo induced an edge that sent back Hussey (29) caught behind at 133 for four, and six runs later, the 26-year-old Trinidadian all-rounder dislodged North for two, caught by a diving Ramnaresh Sarwan at first slip.

Bravo captured three for 37 off 15 overs while Sammy (1-21) and Rampaul (1-22) shared two wickets.

Earlier, West Indies had added 33 runs to their overnight second innings score of 284 for eight.

They moved to 302 before losing Rampaul, bowled for 14 as Mitchell Johnson completed a five-wicket haul.

Three balls after smashing a well-timed drive off Johnson to the cover boundary, Rampaul was bowled — of stump — by the left-arm pacer as he went for a wild swing to mid-wicket.

Pacer Doug Bollinger wrapped up the innings half an hour into the morning session when he had Roach (8) caught off the outside edge by Ponting at slip, leaving Man of the match Gayle unbeaten, carrying his bat for 165.

Johnson finished with five for 103 off 22 overs and Bollinger claimed three for 50 for Australia.

Gayle’s 285-ball knock — his 11th Test hundred and first against Australia — contained 16 fours and one six and is also the highest score by a West Indian captain at Adelaide Oval, beating Clive Lloyd’s 124 on the 1979/80 tour.

“We thought it was a good game, good effort for five days, we are looking forward to Perth,” said Gayle, who became the first West Indies captain to carry his bat through a Test innings.

“Bravo getting a 100, Benn getting a five-wicket haul, a good wicket to bat on, we need some rest and recovery before we go to the third Test,” he said.