… Aussies still lead by 345 runs with two wickets remaining
PERTH, Australia (CMC) – Dwayne Bravo inspired an incisive West Indies bowling effort which crippled Australia as the embattled tourists waded gallantly back into the third Test to leave the match intriguingly poised after the third day at the WACA yesterday.

After capitulating meekly for 312 to concede a first-innings lead of 208, the Windies hit back strongly to reduce Australia to 137 for eight at the close on a day when 16 wickets tumbled for 235 runs.

Bravo, the effervescent medium pacer, was at the forefront of his side’s resurgence snatching three for 34 as Australia stuttered and stumbled to an overall lead of 345 with two days remaining in the contest.

Australia appeared set to consolidate their huge first innings lead at 81 for two in their second innings but Bravo accounted for the dangerous Michael Clarke (25), Marcus North (1) and big hitter Mitchell Johnson (5) in an unbroken 15-over spell after tea.

Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, who was banned for two one-dayers by the ICC for his altercation with Brad Haddin and Johnson on Thursday, chimed in with two for 26 as he extracted bounce and turn from the WACA strip.

West Indies had earlier experienced an all too familiar batting flop, after they resumed the day in a strong position on 214 for two.

They lost Ramnaresh Sarwan to the day’s second ball without addition to the score and despite a 46-run, fifth-wicket stand between Brendan Nash and Bravo, wickets clattered steadily to signal the Windies demise.

The collapse was orchestrated by left-arm seamer Doug Bollinger who grabbed five for 70, and off-spinner Nathan Hauritz who finished with three for 66 while another left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson chipped in with two for 92.

Needing to limit the Aussies, the Windies had a dream start when pacer Ravi Rampaul rattled Simon Katich’s leg stump at 15 for one, after the left-hander walked too far across his wicket on 10.

With Ponting still troubled by his injured elbow, Clarke joined Watson to add 51 for the second wicket and lay the foundation for the intended assault.

Watson looked ominous in striking four fours in 30 off 55 balls but had a promising knock cut short when he was palpably lbw to seamer Gavin Tonge, giving the 26-year-old his maiden Test wicket.

His dismissal sent the innings into decline as the next six wickets fell for a mere 56 runs thanks to Bravo and Benn who smothered the Aussie batsmen with accurate bowling.

Clarke edged a drive to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin in frustration at being tied down for most of his 61 balls while Mike Hussey gloved Benn to Travis Dowlin at short leg for 17 at 89 for four.

Marcus North was superbly caught one handed by Ramdin off Bravo diving to his left and Haddin threatened with 23 from 28 balls with two fours and a six before edging one from Benn that bounced and turned, to be caught by Bravo at first slip.

Johnson then slapped Bravo to Nash at point as Australia continued to flounder at 125 for seven and Ponting, batting at number nine, failed with two as fast bowler Kemar Roach maintained his dominance over the Aussie captain by having him taken at short leg, fending off a short delivery.

Earlier, a post-lunch slump saw West Indies crash from 280 for four to 312 all out, as they squandered their last six wickets for a paltry 32 runs in the space of 54 balls.

West Indies lost Sarwan for his overnight 42, essaying an over-ambitious drive at Bollinger to be caught in the gully by Hussey, as the Caribbean side’s hopes of making a strong start vanished.

Narsingh Deonarine, unbeaten on 10 overnight, laboured over 34 balls in adding eight and shared 25 for the fourth wicket with Nash before tamely driving Johnson to Watson at cover at 239 for four.

The unflappable Nash and Bravo, who was less assured, staged a recovery with a steady partnership to guide the Windies safely to lunch without further loss but all chaos ensued afterwards.

Looking to press on to get close to Australia’s 520 for seven declared, West Indies lost Bravo for 26 in the first over on resumption, as he added just four to his score.

Having just delightfully stroked Bollinger down the ground for a boundary, he sparred at the next delivery which moved away, giving wicketkeeper Haddin an easy catch at 285 for five.

Nash suffered a reprieve in the next over when he was put down by Clarke at first slip off Hauritz before he had added to his lunch time 34.

The left-hander could not make the most of the let off, however, and fell in Hauritz’ next over for 44, as Clarke compensated for his earlier indiscretion by snaring a low one-handed catch to his left at slip at 295 for six.

It all quickly went downhill for West Indies thereafter with Hauritz claiming Benn (3) and Rampaul (0) in the space of three balls two overs later to leave the Windies on 310 for eight.

Bollinger also snatched two wickets in one over to close out the innings, bowling Ramdin behind his back for eight and having Tonge caught at the wicket for two with the final ball of his 20th over.
AUSTRALIA 1st innings 520 for seven decl. (Simon Katich 99, Shane Watson 89, Brad Haddin 88; Narsingh Deonarine 2-74)

WEST INDIES 1st innings (o/n 214 for four)
C. Gayle c Watson b Bollinger 102
T. Dowlin c Hussey b Johnson 55
R. Sarwan c Hussey b Bollinger 42
N. Deonarine c Watson b Johnson 18
B. Nash c Clarke b Hauritz  44
D. Bravo c wkp. Haddin b Bollinger 26
D. Ramdin b Bollinger 8
S. Benn c wkp. Haddin b Hauritz 3
R. Rampaul c wkp. Haddin b Hauritz 0
K. Roach not out 0
G. Tonge c wkp. Haddin b Bollinger 2
Extras: (lb-5, w-1, nb-6) 12     
Total: (all out, 81 overs) 312
Fall of wickets: 1-136, 2-175, 3-214, 4-239, 5-285, 6-295, 7-310, 8-310, 9-310. 
Bowling: Bollinger 20-3-70-5 (w-1, nb4), Johnson 18-3-92-2, McKay 14-3-45-0 (nb-2), Hauritz 17-1-66-3, Watson 12-3-34-0.

AUSTRALIA 2nd innings
S. Watson lbw b Tonge 30
S. Katich b Rampaul 10
M. Clarke c wkp. Ramdin b Bravo 25
M. Hussey c Dowlin b Benn 17
M. North c wkp. Ramdin b Bravo 1
B. Haddin c Bravo b Benn 23
M. Johnson c Nash b Bravo 5
N. Hauritz not out 11
R. Ponting c Dowlin b Roach 2
C. McKay not out 1
Extras: (b-7, lb-2, w-1, nb-2) 12     
Total: (8 wkts, 47 overs) 137
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-66, 3-81, 4-89, 5-109, 6-117, 7-125, 8-134. 
Bowling: Roach 6-0-18-1, Rampaul 6-1-21-1 (nb-1), Tonge 10-2-28-1 (nb-1), Deonarine 1-0-1-0, Bravo 15-6-34-3 (w-1), Benn 9-1-26-2.