The pendulum finally swung in Australia’s favour after almost three days and a session of domination from the West Indies in the Barbados Test match.
The fifth day’s play begins at 11.30 pm AEST on Wednesday.
In reply to West Indies’ first innings score of 449, Australia looked like they would concede a healthy lead when they lost both Michael Hussey, and Peter Siddle, for the addition of just two runs in the day.
And when Wade was sucked into playing the ball away from his body and to the slips, Australia were 8/285, 164 behind the West Indies.
That they would go on to declare at 9/406 was the turning point of the game.
First it was a 44-run partnership between Ryan Harris and Ben Hilfenhaus for the ninth wicket that brought respectability to the Australian score.
Stung by the runs and tiring a little by this time under the hot Barbados sun, the bowlers began to bowl even more waywardly and the last wicket stand between Harris and Nathan Lyon took full toll.
Harris ended unbeaten on 68, Nathan Lyon scored 40 and the last wicket added 77 runs to the total – in the process, batting and exhausting the West Indian fielders for 26 additional overs.
By the time the home team batted again – ahead only by 43 – the Windies looked shell-shocked. Sensing an opportunity to go for the kill, Ben Hilfenhaus ran through the top-order with Adrian Barath, Kraigg Brathwaite and Kirk Edwards scoring 2, 0 and 1 respectively.
First innings centurion Shivnarine Chanderpaul also failed and despite Darren Bravo’s 32 and a gritty unbeaten 20 from Narsingh Deonarine, West Indies hobbled to 5/71 at close.
This means they are ahead only by 114 runs and unless they can conjure up another 100 runs or so from somewhere, this match looks headed in only one direction – the visitors’. Australia are in pole position and anything less than a win from here will be a big surprise!
We will bring you the coverage throughout this first Test match of the series between West Indies and Australia from Barbados and hope to receive your opinions as the last day’s action unfolds from 11.30 pm AEST.
Jason Cave
Guest
These are the match details of the historic 1992 test between the West Indies & South Africa: West Indies 262 (K Arthurton 59, D Haynes 58, R Snell 4/58) & 283 ( J Adams 79* B Lara 64 A Donald 4/74, R Snell 4/77)def South Africa 365 (A Hudson 165 K Wessels 59 J Adams 4/43) & 148 ( K Wessels 74 P Kirsten 52 C Ambrose 6/52 C Walsh 4/31) by 52 runs.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Yep I remember that game, it was a stunning collapse by South Africa and the heart went out for them. It was a bit up and down, the track even then, and Ambrose and Walsh were at the peak of their capabilities. South Africa did not lose too many to non-Australian teams after that one!
mickh
Guest
Springboks?,currie cup?, wrong sport . Well done Aussies. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Jason Cave
Guest
Extraordinary win by the Australians. The West Indies will rue this one as the one that got away. It reminded me of a Test between the West Indies & South Africa in 1992. This was South Africa's first Test match back after a long time away due to the apartheid policies, and the only type of cricket the South Africans had been involved in (apart from rebel tours) was the Currie Cup. At the end of Day 5, the South Africans needed only a handful of runs to win. But the problem was, the Springboks had forgotten how to win. And when you are up against a team that consisted of Ambrose & Walsh and also knows how to win, there's only one result: a West Indian win.
jamesb
Guest
great knock Hussey, well done good win by Australia, somehow they've come from nowhere where in the first inns, Aust were 200 behind with 3 wickets remaining. Its fitting also that Harris is at the crease with the winning runs
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Australia win by 3 wickets! An exciting end to the Test match with the Aussies coming back from behind and winning it by three wickets. With this they have taken a 1-0 lead in the series. Thanks for following this live coverage, we will back with the second Test from April 15.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Review, not-out! Run-out appeal and the third umpire has been called for, but he is in! Australia have won! Sneaked through for a single!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Played away to the leg-side for a single and the scores are level now. 1 needed to win, 3 wickets standing. Hilfy on strike to Roach. A wicket here will make it interesting.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A run is scrambled by Hilfy. 2 needed now.
Lucan
Super knock by Hussey.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Can Roach do a Malinga here? Malinga had picked up four wickets in four balls against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup to almost win it for his side from nowhere. Hilfenhaus here.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT! Awww, just when it looked like it was all over, Roach gets rid of Hussey, bowled off an inside-edge. Only three needed, Hussey's gone for 36.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Singles and a two and they now need only three for a win. A friend just texted me saying that the West Indies don't look too concerned about losing it - almost as if they have gotten used to it.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Cut away by Hussey, seven needed for the win!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
SIX! Cometh the hour, cometh the man! Swept away into the stands and that goes over deep square-leg for a six. The ball's disappeared and a new one's taken! It isn't too dark out there, not as dark as it is needed for players to leave the field.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
14 required and Hussey's on strike. Deonarine's taking his own time to run from one end of the ground to the other to bowl.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT! Wade's gone! Roach's got the wicket and before I type this, Ryan Harris has already taken his place to take strike! Wade went for a slash but it went straight to the deep point region.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Roach's continuing...appeal for caught-behind off the first ball. And for an lbw. Not-out either way.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Gamesmanship is okay but not if you cannot keep your heads cooler, and not concede another overthrow, which is exactly what the West Indies do. 5 runs off the over. 19 needed now.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
24 needed for the win. No sign of darkness. No sign of clouds. But the sun could dip really quickly here.