A superb third century in three Tests, in just 82 balls, by West Indian captain Brian Lara bolstered the home side's first innings reply to Australia's 303 in Antigua yesterday, the second day of the fourth and final test - the home side were 197 for six at stumps.

Lara, who scored a double century in the second Test and an unbeaten 153 in the third Test which propelled the West Indies into a 2-1 series lead, made the most of his luck after Colin "Funky" Miller dropped an easy chance when the Trinidadian was on 14.

The 30-year-old batsman, who was threatened with dismissal as skipper after the West Indies lost six tests in a row going into the second Test in the series, hit three sixes and 15 fours in an exact 100 before Glenn McGrath induced him to edge behind to wicketkeeper Ian Healy.

For McGrath, off whose bowling Miller had dropped Lara, it was a sweet moment following the two players angry confrontation in last week's second Test.

An indication of Lara's dominance on the pitch where he made his world record test innings of 375 against England in 1994-95 tour was that the third wicket partnership with Dave Joseph was worth 116.

Joseph made a steady 28 before being trapped leg before by Adam Dale and the paceman picked up veteran Jimmy Adams shortly afterwards caught by Healy for a duck - Healy's West Indian counterpart Ridley Jacobs was the sixth man out when South African umpire Dave Orchard judged him leg before to Stuart McGill despite the ball clearly missing leg stump.

Earlier Miller, who replaced the dropped Shane Warne, dominated the first two sessions of play hitting a Test best score, taking the first two wickets and then spoiled his first appearance of the series by dropping Lara.

Miller, nicknamed Funky because of his liking for that brand of dance music, had handed Australia the initiative when he had both openers dismissed with only 20 on the board. Adrian Griffith was caught behind by Healy and Sherwin Campbell caught in the slips by Mark Waugh.

Miller, whose two sixes forced Curtly Ambrose out of the attack, lifted Australia after they had lost three wickets for just 21 runs in the opening session - all taken by Ambrose.

Ambrose eventually returned, after Miller was caught by Joseph off Jimmy Adams, and removed McGrath for five to end the Australians' innings.

Ambrose had started the session in ferocious form forcing the out-of-form Healy to edge to Carl Hooper at second slip for just six and then had Adam Dale snapped up by Hooper soon afterwards for just a single and then with Waugh looking despairingly on Stuart McGill pulled Ambrose to Joseph.

However, Miller stunned the West Indian attack as he soared past his previous Test best of 11 dominating the 53-run partnership with Waugh.