West Indies collapse leaves Aussies in control of final Test

Roseau (Dominica), April 25 (IANS/CMC) Brittle batting returned to haunt the West Indies as they suffered a familiar collapse to leave Australia in control of the third and final Test here at Windsor Park.

Chasing Australia's first innings of 328, the West Indies were tottering on 165 for eight, still 163 runs adrift, at the end of tne second day Tuesday.

They were batting on 62 for one at one stage after lunch but lost seven wickets for 58 runs as off-spinner Nathan Lyon undermined the innings with three for 49.

The damage could have been greater, but the ever dependable Shiv Chanderpaul joined Ravi Rampaul in a 45-run ninth-wicket stand to prop up the innings late in the day.

Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 34 from 110 balls with two fours while Rampaul scored a breezy 24 from 33 balls with four fours.

Earlier, Matthew Wade's maiden first class century robbed the West Indies of any early advantage as the left-hander played superbly to convert his overnight 22 into 106.

He outshone off-spinner Shane Shillingford who picked up two of the three wickets to fall in the morning session to finish with six for 119, to log his first five-wicket haul in Tests.

Wade, however, played outstandingly and once he reached his half-century, accelerated to post his second fifty off just 33 balls.

Overall, he faced 146 balls and hammered 10 fours and three sixes.

He led a strong lower order revival, ensuring Australia added 159 runs for the last three wickets and further frustrate the West Indies.

Wade extended his overnight eighth-wicket stand with Mitchell Starc (35) to 57 before snuffing the life out of the regional side with an exhilarating 102-run, ninth-wicket partnership with Ben Hilfenhaus (19).

West Indies got yet another shaky start when teenaged opener Kraigg Brathwaite fell in just the third over without scoring before Adrian Barath and Kieran Powell steadied the innings in a 61-run stand before the former was taken at short leg by Ed Cowan off Lyon.

In the next over from part-time leg-spinner David Warner, Darren Bravo collected a pair of boundaries before giving Cowan the easiest of catches, off an inside edge off his pad.

Powell, dropped on 30 by Ricky Ponting at short cover off Lyon, survived until the fourth over after tea when he dragged on a cut at Lyon, as the West Indies slipped to 85 for four.

With 11 runs added, Narsingh Deonarine was lbw to seamer Harris after the Aussies challenged the original not out verdict and Baugh also fell to Lyon, caught bat-pad.

Captain Darren Sammy was run out for 10 by a direct hit as he attempted a quick single while Shillingford was bowled first ball by left-armer Starc, leaving the Windies in tatters.

--IANS/CMC

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