Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport

West Indies' opener Xavier Marshall plays a shot for four runs on the second innings on the fourth day of the third and final cricket Test against Australia at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, yesterday. The West Indies with an improbable target of 475 for victory, closed the fourth day at 235 for three - AP

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados:

DESPITE A Test and first-class high score of 85 from young Jamaican Xavier Marshall, the West Indies will face an uphill task today to avoid defeat in the third and final Digicel Test at the Kensington Oval.

Going into the final day, the Windies are on 235 for three in pursuit of 475 - needing 240 more for an unlikely victory and a 1-1 series draw.

At the post-match press conference after day four, Marshall said he was reasonably pleased with his effort but was more concerned about the team's position.

"I tried to be as patient as possible; play the ball on its merit and take it from there," Marshall, whose previous best first-class score was 82, said.

"I have been working hard for the past few months, so it is paying off now. I have been training harder and talking to guys who have been playing for a long time and I keep doing what is right and what will get me through. I try to play in the nets as I would in the middle," he said.

Important first hour

As for how the game was set, Marshall said: "I think the guys have to come out positive. The first hour will be important, so we just have to stick it out ... we always believe (we can win)," he said.

Australian debutant spinner Beau Casson, who claimed his first Test wicket yesterday, said Australia were in the box seat to win the match and seal the series 2-0.

"If we bowl well, we'll have a good result," the Chinaman bowler said. "We are creating chances; our quicks bowled really well. It's going to be hard work, but it's a fifth-day wicket and we'll be coming out very excited and with all guns blazing," Casson said.

The visitors declared at lunch at 439 for five yesterday, setting the Windies the more than challenging target.

Likely batting a man short due to opener Sewnarine Chattergoon's severe ankle sprain, the chase was always going to be difficult and it could have been made impossible if the usually sure-handed Aussies held a string of chances offered by Marshall and skipper Chris Gayle early in the hosts' chase.

Gayle, when on four, slashed a ball from Stuart Clark and it dropped just over the head of Andrew Symonds, who was running back from gully.

In the next over, from Brett Lee, Marshall, on one, edged straight to Simon Katich at third slip and was put down. Katich had been moved along the cordon from first slip after grassing two catches late in the West Indian first innings. The change of address obviously didn't help and he was banished to the outfield.

Gayle then continued to ride his luck and was dropped at mid-off by Casson when on eight off the frustrated Lee, while Marshall got a second life on 22 when keeper Brad Haddin spilled a diving chance off Clark.

Surviving possible run-outs

The duo also survived two clear run-out chances to advance the score to 64 before Gayle, on 26, casually flicked a Clark delivery to Lee at mid-on.

Ramnaresh Sarwan joined the fray and he and Marshall rollicked along on the now benign pitch, punishing anything off line or length. They added 95 runs in quick time before Sarwan was trapped leg before by part-time left-arm spinner Michael Clarke.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul came to the crease with the scoreboard reading 159 for two and he and Marshall looked to keep the momentum going but, 22 runs later, the Jamaican finally fell when he nicked Casson to diving short leg Phil Jaques.

Despite the scratchy and lucky start, the 22-year-old's 146-ball innings showed much promise for the future. The St Ann batsman's knock included 12 fours and a six off Clarke over square leg. He cut and pulled but it was his trademark cover drives which drew the greatest appreciation from the crowd.

The indefatigable Chanderpaul (27) and all-rounder Dwayne Bravo (30) saw the Windies to stumps without further distress; although it did appear the latter may have gloved Lee to Haddin when on 17.

IN COMMAND

Australia resumed yesterday well in command at 330 for three. Century-maker Katich drove the first ball of the day from Bravo for four but added only nine runs to his overnight total before hitting a Sulieman Benn delivery to substitute fielder Darren Sammy at cover. His Test-high, marathon knock of 157 included 14 boundaries in 332 balls and 488 minutes.

Symonds (two) fell soon after caught in same position by Chanderpaul playing a tame shot off the left-arm spinner.

However, Clarke (48) and Haddin (45) put on 79 in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand with a minimum of fuss to allow skipper Ricky Ponting to declare at the interval.

Benn had the only figures of note, 3-154 off 47 overs with seven maidens.

AUSTRALIA 1st Innings 251

(A Symonds 52; J Taylor 3-46)

WEST INDIES 1st Innings	216

(S Chanderpaul 79 no; M Johnson 4-41)

AUSTRALIA 2nd Innings

(overnight 330-3)

P. Jaques c wk Ramdin b Edwards	108
S. Katich c sub (Sammy) b Benn	157

R. Ponting c sub (Morton) b Powell 39

M. Hussey c Bravo b Benn	18
M. Clarke not out	48
A. Symonds c Chanderpaul b Benn	2
+B. Haddin not out	45
Extras (b5, lb2, w5, nb5, pen5)	22

TOTAL (5 wkts dec'd - 145 overs) 439

Fall of wickets: 1-223, 2-299, 3-330, 4-358, 5-360.

Bowling: Powell 16-6-40-1 (w1), Edwards 14-3-52-1 (w1, nb2), Taylor 22-3-64-0 (nb1), Gayle 16-3-45-0, Benn 47-7-154-3, Bravo 23-4-63-0 (w1, nb2), Marshall 2-2-0-0, Sarwan 5-0-9-0.

WEST INDIES 2nd Innings

C. Gayle c Lee b Clark	26
X. Marshall c Jaques b Casson	85
R. Sarwan lbw b Clarke	43
S. Chanderpaul not out	27
D. Bravo not out	30
Extras (b10, lb4, w2, nb8)	24
TOTAL (3 wkts - 59 overs)	235

Fall of wickets: 1-64, 2-159, 3-181.

Bowling: Lee 12-1-50-0 (w1, nb4), Clark 10-3-29-1, Johnson 9-0-53-0 (w1, nb4), Casson 17-2-58-1, Clarke 9-0-25-1, Symonds 2-0-6-0.

Umpires: Mark Benson, Aleem Dar. TV replays: Goaland Greaves.

Matchreferee: Roshan Mahanama.