Marlon Samuels and Shane Dowrich led an encouraging fightback from West Indies on the third day in Dominica, where they had moved into the lead by tea. Dowrich fell to Josh Hazlewood shortly before the break, the only wicket claimed during the session, but Samuels was still there on 71 and had been joined by Jermaine Blackwood, who had 6, and the total was 189 for 4.

That meant a slim 19-run advantage for West Indies, who had started the day on 25 for 2, with plenty of work ahead of them to even make Australia bat again. The settled Samuels loomed as the key man for West Indies well-paced innings that frustrated the Australians during his 144-run stand with Dowrich.

Samuels was steady through the morning session, although he had one nervy moment when he left a delivery from Shane Watson and lifted his back foot just after Brad Haddin whipped the bails off. After lunch, Samuels gradually became more expansive and within the space of three balls launched Nathan Lyon over mid-on for a four and a six.

His half-century came from his 115th delivery, although he was fortunate in the previous over that

David Warner had missed the stumps from mid-off when Samuels hesitated in taking a single off Dowrich's bat; he would have been out by half a pitch. As it was, Samuels stuck around and continued to frustrate the Australians and had seven fours and one six by tea.

Dowrich also played a few more aggressive shots in the middle session, including a six over mid-on off Lyon, and he brought up his half-century from his 153rd delivery with a pull for four off Mitchell Johnson. But on 70, Dowrich fell for Michael Clarke's trap of a short catching mid-on beside the pitch; his attempted clip through leg off Josh Hazlewood was misplaced and went straight into

Shane Watson's hands.

It was the only breakthrough of the session and meant that by tea, West Indies had added 164 runs for the day for the loss of two wickets. Dwayne Bravo departed early in the morning when on 5 he drove Hazlewood uppishly and was well caught by Warner, hurling himself to his right at mid-off.

SCORES IN BRIEF

WEST INDIES: First innings 148 AUSTRALIA: First innings 318 (Marsh 19, Smith 25, Clarke 18, Voges 130 not out, Lyon 22, Hazlewood 39; Bishoo 6-80) WEST INDIES: 2nd innings 189 for four (S. Dowrich 70, M. Samuels 71 notout, J. Blackwood 6 notout)