DARWIN, Australia, 20 July 2003 — Steve Waugh smashed another century yesterday to add an extra chapter to his distinguished career and leave Australia poised for a quick victory in the first Test against Bangladesh.

The Australian captain scored an unbeaten 100 in less than three hours to equal two great batting feats and leave Bangladesh facing an innings defeat inside three days.

Darren Lehmann also scored a century in Australia’s first innings total of 407 for seven declared but his performance was overshadowed by his captain’s amazing effort.

Waugh’s hundred gave him a complete set of centuries against all nine Test-playing nations — England, West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh — joining South African Gary Kirsten as the only player to achieve the feat. Waugh also joined India’s Sachin Tendulkar in second place on the all-time list of century-makers with 31 Test hundreds — just three behind Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 34

As soon as Waugh completed his hundred, he immediately aborted Australia’s innings with a lead of 310 after Bangladesh had managed a paltry 97 in their first innings.

Bangladesh made a better start to their second innings, reaching 70-1 at the close on the second day, but they require a further 240 to make Australia bat again with the prospect of an innings defeat inside three days looming. Glenn McGrath trapped Javed Omar lbw for five in the third over but Hannan Sarkar (29 not out) and Habibul Bashar (26 not out) guided the tourists safely to stumps with a promising display.

Lehmann top scored for Australia with 110 and shared a third wicket partnership of 141 with Justin Langer that quickly put Australia in control of a match that has lived up to pre-game predictions of a one-sided contest.Adam Gilchrist also belted a quick-fire 43 but Martin Love missed out when he was bowled for a duck by Mashrafe Mortaza, who was the most successful of the Bangladeshi bowlers with three wickets.

Australia began the second day at 121-2 but lost one wicket before lunch when Langer, who had resumed on 40, misjudged an attempted pull off Alok Kapali and was trapped leg before for 71. Lehmann, who had started the day on 51, reached his second Test hundred and his first on home soil just after lunch. His century took 223 balls and 266 minutes but he was eventually dismissed when Javed Omar held a difficult catch in the outfield, leaving Waugh to once again take the center stage. The 38-year-old, now in his 18th year of Test cricket, brought up his 31st Test century in typically daring circumstances in 177 minutes off 133 balls.

Waugh smashed 10 boundaries and a six during his innings but needed to scramble through for a quick two runs off Tapash Baisya to add another chapter to his astonishing career.

Wasim Jaffer Defies South Africa

Arundel, England, Wasim Jaffer’s unbeaten 58 guided India A to 195 for three at tea on the first day of their three-day tour match against South Africa yesterday.

But in what was South Africa’s last match before Thursday’s first Test against England at Edgbaston, pace bowler Monde Zondeki took a wicket with the last ball before tea to send the Proteas into the interval on a high.

Left-hander Hemang Bedani had made 23 when he drove loosely at Zondeki and edged through to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher. He faced 70 balls including one six and two fours.

Jaffer, 25, who has played seven Tests, could only watch from the other end having faced 92 balls including eight fours in an innings lasting just over two hours.

India A started the second session on 99 for one with captain Shiv Sunder Das 23 not out and Jaffer five not out.