BRIDGETOWN:
Some fine batting by Ryan Harris and an electrifying spell of bowling
from Ben Hilfenhaus looked to have turned the first Test with the West
Indies in Australia's favour on an engrossing fourth day here Tuesday.
West
Indies finished the day on 71 for five in its' second innings, leading
by just 114 runs after Australia's tail wagged and Hilfenhaus knocked
over their top order.
Earlier captain Michael Clarke declared Australia's first innings at 406 for nine with his side still trailing by 43 runs.
It
was an aggressive move allowing his bowlers to attack the West Indian
batsmen either side of tea and Hilfenhaus took advantage in the 25
minutes leading up to the break removing the top three.
Harris - who had earlier hit an unbeaten 68 - added the important scalp of Shivnarine Chanderpaul shortly after tea.
"To get him out second innings for not many was a huge wicket because I think they batted around him a fair bit," said Harris.
He thought that the declaration had set the West Indies on the back foot.
"To declare and put them in straight away, it probably didn't give them a chance to get their head around batting.
"I
think it showed, obviously, taking three or four quick wickets. I think
it was a good declaration. We want to win the Test match."
West Indies' coach Otis Gibson thought that the 145 overs in the field had an impact on the top order.
"Hilfenhaus
came out and bowled a great spell, some tired legs, batsmen didn't move
their feet and so on and he got a couple of wickets.
"This is why
it's called Test cricket. It's tough. It's tough on you mentally, it's
tough on you physically. That three hour session this morning was tough
on the guys but they hung in."
However; Gibson still believed his side could win.
"We believe if we get 200 on the board it'll be a very interesting run chase tomorrow (Wednesday)"
It
was a remarkable turnaround in fortunes as the Australians had at one
point been 199 runs behind with only three first innings wickets
remaining.
The West Indies had looked like wrapping things up
quickly when they took two early wickets in the morning session
especially as one was the redoubtable veteran Mike Hussey.
However,
Harris steadied the ship and played positively from the start of his
innings as he and Matthew Wade added 35 runs for the eighth wicket.
Wade
fell for 28 in his first Test innings when he took a wild drive at a
wide Fidel Edwards ball that Darren Bravo took easily at second slip.
Harris
and Hilfenhaus played gutsy innings as they gradually reduced the
deficit with Harris passing his top score in Test cricket, made in his
last innings against India in Adelaide.
The ninth wicket
partnership of 44 was finally broken when Hilfenhaus, on 24, played an
extravagant shot and Roach's delivery took out the middle stump.
The
West Indies still had a 120 run lead when last man Nathan Lyon came to
the crease but he and Harris played so well that Lyon hit his highest
first class score of 40.
They had added 76 runs when Clarke decided to declare and Hillfenhaus took centre stage.
Barath
was comprehensively bowled through the gate for two and two balls later
Kraigg Brathwaite, who had played such a patient innings first time
around, had an uncharacteristic go at a wide delivery and Wade took the
catch.
Kirk Edwards was the next to go as he moved across his stumps to another Hilfenhaus delivery and was given out lbw.
Harris
struck a major blow when he bowled the perfect line to Chanderpaul who
edged to Wade to leave the West Indies reeling at 17 for four.
Darren Bravo and Narsingh Deonarine steadied things as they added fifty for
the fifth wicket.
A
tight spell by Siddle eventually drew Bravo into a loose shot outside
of the off stump when he'd scored 32 and he was caught behind
