Defiant Windies set up final-day thriller
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West Indies' batsman Xavier Marshall stroked a commanding 85. (AFP: Emmanuel Dunand)
The West Indies require 240 runs to claim victory over Australia on the final day of the third and final Test at Kensington Oval in Barbados.
The hosts had compiled 3 for 235 in their second innings at stumps on the penultimate day, after Australia had earlier declared its innings closed at 5 for 439.
Dwayne Bravo was unbeaten on 30 at the close, joined at the crease by Shivnarine Chanderpaul on 27 not out.
For a wrap-up of the fourth day's play visit our full scorecard.
Xavier Marshall fell short of his century, Beau Casson claiming his maiden Test scalp to remove the West Indian opener for 85.
Earlier, Simon Katich was the leading run scorer for Australia with a superb 157 at the top of the order.
Australia suffered a setback to its plans for free scoring in the morning period, after continuing from its overnight total of 3 for 330.
Katich was caught at cover playing a loose drive outside the off-stump to bring his marathon eight-hour innings to an end.
Andrew Symonds has been a thorn in the West Indies' side throughout the series, but Sulieman Benn poached him in his next over, when he had him caught at cover for two also essaying a loose drive.
But Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin batted purposefully to consolidate Australia's position and allow Ponting to make his third declaration in the last four innings of the series.
Windies' fightback
The balance of power could have been more in Australia's favour had umpire Mark Benson adjudged Bravo either caught behind off the glove, or adjudged lbw to a full-length delivery from Brett Lee in one eventful over.
The Aussies had snared the wickets of Ramnaresh Sarwan and Marshall in the final period to strengthen their position.
Marshall had edged Mitchell Johnson between first and second slip fielders Michael Clarke and Aussie captain Ricky Ponting for four to reach his 50.
But Clarke then had Sarwan lbw for 43 playing back and across to a ball of no great merit, after he added 95 for the second wicket with Marshall.
The Australian bowlers had been flayed by Marshall, who passed his highest first-class score when he was 83, and he would have been eyeing a maiden first-class and Test hundred.
But Casson was into a decent spell of left-arm wrist spin when Marshall turned a delivery to short leg and was caught by Phil Jaques, who was stretching to his right to clutch the ball.
Australia created a number of chances to put West Indies under early pressure, but poor catching let them down on three occasions.
Brett Lee suffered twice in his opening spell, when Katich dropped Marshall on 1, and Casson dropped Gayle on eight before Stuart Clark then saw wicket-keeper Haddin floor Marshall on 22.
Australia leads the three-Test series 1-0, after winning the opening Test at Sabina Park in the Jamaican capital of Kingston by 95 runs.
The second Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in the Antigua village of North Sound was drawn.
The Aussies have already retained the Frank Worrell Trophy.
-ABC/AFP
