Chanderpaul, Deonarine build momentum before rain

West Indies remained in contention on the third day in Port-of-Spain as Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Narsingh Deonarine gave their first-innings substance with the home side reaching 188 for 4 when rain arrived to bring an early tea. Darren Bravo was the only additional batsman to fall, against the surprise package of Michael Hussey, and Australia's attack did not dictate terms as had been expected.

When Bravo departed, West Indies were in significant trouble at 100 for 4 so Chanderpaul, who had been given a life on 8, and Deonarine initially concentrated solely on survival to the extent that Deonarine had 4 off 43 balls. They scored at barely a run-an-over during the first 15 overs of their partnership, but shortly before the lunch the momentum began to switch when Deonarine took consecutive boundaries off Nathan Lyon.

After the interval Chanderpaul, having reached fifty off 140 balls, took 16 off James Pattinson's first over of the session with the fast bowler struggling for control. The over included two no-balls and three off-side boundaries and Pattinson's post-lunch spell was ended after two overs as Michael Clarke returned to Shane Watson to exert some control.

Both batsmen continued to pick off boundaries - one whip through midwicket by Deonarine off Lyon stood out - and as Clarke rung the changes Deonarine also took a six off David Warner whose first ball had used up a review when Australia checked for an lbw. The momentum had shifted to the extent that the rain interruption probably favoured the visitors.

There had been a bizarre beginning to the day when play was delayed by 20 minutes due to a power failure at the ground which led the players leaving the field while the situation - including the availability of TV pictures and DRS - was discussed between the teams and officials.

When play began Lyon created an early opportunity when he found Chanderpaul's edge on 8, but it was a big deflection which made it tough for Matthew Wade to cling on while Clarke could not gather the rebound at slip either. Generally, however, West Indies were not overly troubled during the initial stages despite Lyon finding turn and Ben Hilfenhaus swing as they had done the previous evening. Chanderpaul drove a boundary off Hilfenhaus but the shots of the morning came from Bravo with a punch off the back foot and a rasping square drive.

Clarke, though, pulled off his latest piece of smart captaincy by the introduction of Hussey who ended Bravo's first Test innings on his homeground. With his frontline bowlers not providing an early breakthrough Clarke went through his box of tricks with by using Hussey, who has developed a golden-arm under Clarke's captaincy, and then Watson whose cutters were well suited to the conditions. Hussey, unsurprisingly given he is a part-time bowler, was less accurate than Watson but beat Bravo with late swing to trap him lbw and the batsman's use of the DRS was a waste.

West Indies had a nervous moment in the closing stages of the morning session when Deonarine was inches from being run out by Hussey from mid-on having been called through for a single. It was a matter of one frame between him being short and being safe and the narrow margin went in his favour.