BRIDGETOWN: Australian captain Michael Clarke scored a solid unbeaten 67 to lead some stubborn resistance from his side as they reached 200 for four in their first innings at tea on the third day of the first Test with the West Indies here Monday.
The tourists still trail the West Indies by 249 runs but Clarke's unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 67 with veteran Mike Hussey had at least taken them to within sight of avoiding the follow on.
The day started well for the home side and, in particular, for their captain Darren Sammy.
Following his positive batting display on Sunday, he brought himself on to open the bowling. Having added only one run to his overnight score of 13, Ed Cowan was drawn into a shot to a ball just outside off stump and edged through to the keeper.
Shane Watson, batting for the first time in a Test at number three, was fortunate to survive twice when he had scored five.
He left a Sammy delivery alone that came back and hit his pad outside off stump but the DRS result went in favour of the batsman, but only just.
Next over Kemar Roach also appealed for an lbw decision that was turned down but replays showed that, on appeal, Watson would have been on his way.
Sammy's persevering line just outside off stump worked again when David Warner, having scored 42 off 55 balls, played at a ball without much foot movement and Darren Bravo took the catch at second slip.
After the early scares Watson had settled but when he turned a Fidel Edwards delivery to fine leg he was looking for a second run which would have been tight.
After running the first Ricky Ponting hadn't moved as Kraigg Brathwaite pounced on the ball and threw in one movement.
There was so much confusion between the two batsmen that Ponting was given out without a referral being necessary.
Devendra Bishoo's leg breaks were causing few problems but in the 36th over one stayed low and when Clarke, on 21, cut at the ball the West Indies went up for a catch behind.
Umpire Tony Hill gave it out but Clarke immediately called for the DRS. There was quite a bit of surprise when TV Umpire Marais Erasmus over-turned the on-field decision as there didn't appear to be conclusive evidence in the favour of Clarke.
The second ball after lunch, Watson played a loose drive at a Roach delivery outside off stump and got a thick edge through to Carlton Baugh. The dismissal put the West Indies firmly in charge with Australia 133-4.
The West Indies knew how important Clarke's wicket would be and when Roach struck his pad when he'd scored 31 they were quick to use the review system.
It was a poor move as the ball was clearly missing the stumps and the home side had used both of their reviews.
Hussey was playing the perfect support role for Clarke.
Although batting wasn't easy there were no major causes for concern although a bump ball through to keeper Baugh was referred by the umpires to verify that it wasn't a catch after the West Indies had appealed.
By the time tea came Clarke and Hussey had batted through virtually the whole session and their unbeaten partnership was pulling Australia clear of a precarious situation.
