ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Shaun Marsh struck a timely century to press his claim for a spot in the first Test against West Indies next week but all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite smashed a cameo, unbeaten half-century and grabbed two wickets, to inspire the West Indies President’s XI on the second day of their three-day game here yesterday.Left-hander Marsh finished the day on 118 not out as Australia closed on 205 for six in their first innings.
Adam Voges struck 52 in a 116-run, third wicket partnership with Marsh which pulled the tourists out of difficulty at 25 for two.
Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was the main destroyer with three for 69 while Brathwaite collected two for 28 from his 14 overs – including the scalp of captain Michael Clarke for 15.
Earlier, Brathwaite had blasted exactly 50 not out off a mere 42 balls to help fire the President’s XI up to 382 all out, after resuming the day on 288 for five at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
The right-hander, on the fringe of Test selection, hammered three fours and five sixes, and put on a rousing 58 for the last wicket with Miguel Cummins who made just six.’
Roston Chase converted his overnight 65 into 76 while Jason Mohammed, who started the day on 42, made 55.
They stretched their sixth wicket stand to 117 before being separated in the tenth over of the morning, when Chase missed a full length outswinger from seamer Peter Siddle and was bowled at 314 for six.
His wicket was one of four to fall for just ten runs as the hosts slumped to 324 for nine, before Brathwaite counter-attacked.
Seamers Josh Hazlewood (2-36), Mitchell Marsh (2-40), Peter Siddle (2-64) along with leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed (2-113), all finished with two wickets apiece.
Left with just over half-hour to survive before lunch, Australia lost Chris Rodgers who was prised out cheaply by seamer Miguel Cummins for two in the third over of the innings.
On 22 for one at lunch, Clarke fell soon after the resumption, top-edging a hook at Brathwaite to gully where Shamarh Brooks took the catch.
However, Shaun Marsh and Voges then stemmed the rot with their century stand.
Marsh struck 13 fours and three sixes in an innings which has so far spanned 216 balls and 4-1/2 hours while Voges faced 109 balls in just over two hours and counted seven fours.
He eventually departed, lbw to Warrican pushing forward at 141 for three in the final session.His dismissal sparked a slide where four wickets tumbled for 62 runs.

WI PRESIDENT’S XI 1st Innings overnight 288 for 5
T Theophile c M Marsh b Hazlewood 4
R Chandrika b Ahmed 74
*L Johnson c Clarke b Hazlewood 0
S Brooks c S Marsh b Ahmed 4
+S Dowrich c Siddle b Lyon 78
R Chase b Siddle 76
J Mohammed c Voges b Siddle 55
C Brathwaite not out 50
J Warrican c wkp Haddin b M Marsh 0
M Mindley b M Marsh 0
M Cummins c Nevill b Lyon 6
Extras (b21, lb8, w1, nb5) 35
TOTAL (all out, 114 overs) 382
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-20, 3-38, 4-141, 5-197, 6-314, 7-323, 8-324, 9-324, 10-382.
Bowling: Hazlewood 19-7-36-2 (nb1), Siddle 21-4-64-2 (nb1), Lyon 28-5-87-2-1, M Marsh 14-3-40-0, (w3, nb1), Ahmed 28-5-113-2, Voges 4-0-13-0.
AUSTRALIA 1st Innings
C Rogers c Brathwaite b Cummins 2
S Marsh not out 118
*M Clarke c Brooks b Brathwaite 15
A Voges lbw b J Warrican 52
M Marsh c wkp Dowrich b Brathwaite 8
+B Haddin c Cummins b Warrican 1
P Nevill c Johnson b Warrican 5
P Siddle not out 0
Extras (lb1, nb3) 4
TOTAL (6 wkts, 70 overs) 205
To bat: N Lyon, J Hazlewood, F Ahmed.
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-25, 3-141, 4-166, 5-178, 6-203.
Bowling: Cummins 14-3-42-1 (nb1), Mindley 10-2-32-0 (nb1), Brathwaite 14-3-28-2, Warrican 26-4-69-3, Chase 6-1-33-0.
Position: Australia trail by 177 runs with four wickets intact.