Australia were in the driver’s seat at the end of the third day’s play of the third Test match against the West Indies at Dominica. Day four begins 1.00am AEST on Friday morning.
Eight wickets fell during the third day of the third Test match on a track that showed signs of slowing up a little.
West Indies extended their score from 8/120 on the second day to end on 218 before Australia ended day three at 6/200.
This gives Australia an overall lead of 310, which should be enough runs on a fourth-day track at Dominica.
Michael Hussey and Ryan Harris, who are at the crease, and the remaining three Australian batsmen to follow however, will look to extend the West Indian target up to 400 that should allow them to dictate terms in the fourth innings.
After Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s resistance in the first innings was ended some half hour before the lunch break, Australia lost an early wicket of Dave Warner to an outside edge to Kemar Roach.
Immediately after the break, Shane Shillingford grabbed his first of the innings and seventh of the game to send back Shane Watson, caught at short-leg. Australia were 2/25 at this stage and in trouble.
It was a third wicket stand between the two beleaguered batsmen on this tour, Ed Cowan and Ricky Ponting that pulled the visitors out of trouble.
Both scored half-centuries with similar strike-rates and added 87 for the third wicket.
After Narsingh Deonarine had sent Cowan back, further resistance from Michael Clarke took Australia to 3/168.
Then Roach had Ponting yet again, off a bouncer, Shillingford added to his tally by dismissing Clarke and Deonarine trapped first-innings centurion Matthew Wade lbw to peg Australia back a little.
Still, with the lead having grown to 310 and with the Australian lower-order having shown signs of wagging almost every time they have been at the wicket, the visitors will be favourites at this stage.
We will bring you the coverage throughout this third Test match of the series between West Indies and Australia from Dominica and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds from 1.00am AEST.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And that is the end of Day's play. Good resistance shown by West Indies in the last one and half sessions. Chanderpaul getting yet another half century during the course of which he reached 10,000 Test runs. But those two late wickets have set them back, and a defeat is imminent. Clarke was the star of the bowling show getting three important wickets, as Lyon disappointed. Barring a miracle or a thunderstorm Australia should wrap up the series with a 2-0 scoreline. Join us tommorrow for live commentary.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT! He has got the big fish. Chanderpaul goes in the last over of the day. This is a huge huge wicket. Clarke gets his third wicket. That will be so deflating for the home side. Chanderpaul goes for 69.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Appeal! Turned down. They review it.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Deonarine digs deep to play out the over from Watson. Just two off it. 4/173
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Deonarine looks quite okay out there. They need less than 200 now. 4/171
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Clarke comes on four a last couple of overs. He has been far more effective than Lyon today. This will be a test for Deonarine.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! Flicked off the pads by Deonarine. He looks at ease as off now.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Lyon's bowled a fair number of short balls today. The left handers have been happy to get some easy runs. Steadier stuff in this over though. 4 overs to negate. 4/163
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Bravo looks forlorn as he stands with his head resting on the wall. He still has not got his pads off. Thinking of what could have been. Just when they started seeing a glimmer of hope, he nicked one. Watson gives two runs in his over. 4/161
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! Hit uppishly and in the air, but well placed. Slow and short from Lyon, turning away. Chanders gets himself another four runs by cutting it through the offside. 4/159
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
This is going to be a tough time for WI now. They lose wickets in clumps more often than not. Lets see how they hold on for the last 7 overs.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT! Bravo departs. Pushes away from the body as the edge carries to Wade who takes a tumbling catch. Watson gets his first wicket. The batsman is in a lot of anguish. Fine effort from him but they needed a lot more than just 45.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Nathan Lyon comes into bowl now. Bowling round the wicket. But having to pitch it well outside the leg stump to be able to hit the batsman's offstump. 3/154
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Watson comes into the attack. Continuing with the same ploy of bowling full and at the stumps. 3 runs off the over. Nine more overs to survive for the day. 3/153
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Starc attacking the stumps. Bowling very full. Definite plan from the bowlers. Should think of slipping in a bouncer once in a while.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! Starc continues bowling it full, but drifts down the leg. Shiv plays it late and puts it away to fine leg. Moves onto 58. WI 3/149
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The hundred off the partnership comes with a tap to third man. Harris beats Bravo with a fast incoming delivery. Big appeal. The umpire turns it down. They decide against reviewing the decision. Replays show the ball would have clipped the leg stump, so would have been given not out. 3/145
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
It has been an excellent hour or so for WI since tea. Both the batsmen looking confident and playing some shots. Starc bowls one full delivery which shapes inwards. Bravo does well to keep it out. 3/144
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
227 runs still needed. The partnership worth 98 now. Play set to resume after the drinks break.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! Wonderful delivery from Harris. Round the wicket aiming the yorker at the stumps. Chanderpaul manages to dig it out, but gets the outside edge. The ball goes between the keeper and first slip for four more runs. That boundary brings up Chanderpaul's half century. 3/142