PERTH, Australia (CMC):

The third Test match between the West Indies and Australia has turned into an open contest following an enthralling third day's play on Friday and West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo is convinced his side can win.

Bravo played a pivotal role to rally the Caribbean team's effort and he is not ruling out a West Indies victory that would square the series at 1-1.

"We are in the match and we believe we can win," Bravo said.

On a day of drama at the WACA Ground in Perth, the West Indies fought back brilliantly to have Australia wobbling on 137 for eight in the second innings.

The Windies were bowled out for 312 in the first innings in reply to the home team's 520 for seven declared.

Bravo led the Windies fightback with his effervescent medium pace, snaring three for 34 off 15 overs with six maidens.

Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn (2-26) and a wicket each from pacer Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul and Gavin Tonge supported Bravo in bowling the visitors back into the match as the home side lost seven wickets for 68 runs.

Going into the fourth day, the West Indies so far require 346 for victory and will be hunting the final two wickets in the first half hour.

Bravo, who made 26 to reach 2,000 runs in Test cricket when the Windies batted, delivered for his captain with the ball and also held a sharp chance at slip.

He said the team was encouraged by the tremendous fightback.

"We fought back really well from the second Test in Adelaide and we plan to continue the fight. We have come a long way since the defeat in Brisbane and we don't plan to give up now," Bravo said.

"We know the Australians are under a lot of pressure to perform well. Some of the players in the team are also under pressure. That's good for us. We are looking forward to the challenge, we have nothing to lose so were going to give it our best shot," he said.

"We know the Australian team is a world-class team and (with) 300-odd runs on the board, they have the self-belief in their bowling attack that they know they can take that and defend that. But we have the batters in our line-up also to chase down 360-plus runs with a day and a half to go. At this point in time we would back ourselves to get that."

Bravo added: "Our game plan was to stifle the Australians. We knew they had a big lead and would have to come at us, so we bowled one side of the wicket and forced them to make mistakes. They did that, fell into the trap and it is right back into our hands now.

"It's very even and hopefully they don't bowl as well in the second innings because it's going to be a close and tense game. The team that holds up the best under the pressure will eventually win."

Highlights

One of the highlights of the day was the duel between West Indies pacer Kemar Roach and Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting, who batted at Number 9 after he had his hand damaged by a bouncer from Roach in the first innings.

A fired-up Roach tested Ponting with a few short deliveries before having him caught at short leg by Travis Dowlin, trying to fend off a perfect bouncer.

"We know Kemar has got him out a couple of times in this series and that it would play on his mind. We were very happy to get him out and it put us in the driver's seat even though the game is evenly balanced. We still have a job to do in the morning and then give it a go," Bravo said.