ROSEAU: Australia eventually separated the fourth-wicket pair of Shane Dowrich and Marlon Samuels but the West Indies fought to 189 for four in their second innings at tea on the third day of the first Test in Dominica on Friday.
Having trailed after the first innings by 170 runs at the Windsor Park Stadium, the home side went into the final session of the day ahead by just 19 runs with Samuels, on 71, joined by fellow Jamaican Jermaine Blackwood following the dismissal of Dowrich for a well-played 70 just before the interval.
In his first Test match, Dowrich's defiant knock in over four hours at the crease was an admirable effort give the state of the match, the condition of a wearing pitch and the perseverance of the Australians in seeking to turn the screws on a West Indies side that looked completely deflated at the end of the second day when Adam Voges' debut unbeaten hundred swung the match completely around.
Samuels, the most experienced West Indian player following the omission of Shivnarine Chanderpaul ahead of this two-match series, punctuated long periods of defiance with fluent strokeplay, occasionally taking on the challenge presented by frontline spinner Nathan Lyon.
Their partnership was worth 144 runs and stretched the limit of Australia's bowling resources, Michael Clarke trying his hand for a couple of overs along with Voges as the visiting captain searched for options to break the stubborn stand.
Samuels, on 47, would have been run out had David Warner's throw from cover hit the stumps directly as he trotted through lazily for a single.
Dowrich, having reached a maiden Test fifty, escaped on 53 when an inside-edge off Lyon brushed the left hand of Steve Smith at short-leg.
But with the tea interval beckoning, the 23-year-old's concentration lapsed again and this time Shane Watson was on hand to come up with the low catch at short mid-on off Josh Hazlewood, giving the fast bowler both wickets for the day at that stage.
Samuels had joined Dowrich at the crease 20 minutes into the day when Darren Bravo, the other overnight batsman, fell to an excellent diving catch by Warner at mid-off as the left-hander attempted a lofted drive off Hazlewood.
For a player of his experience and given the state of the match, it was a poor shot notwithstanding the continued excellence of the Australians' catching in this match.
In the penultimate delivery before lunch, Samuels came within half a second of being stumped off the bowling of Watson as wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, standing up to the medium-pacer, whipped off the bails just an instant before the batsman absent-mindedly lifted his back foot from the crease.
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