Cricket: Windies in strong position at stumps

Shane Shillingford spun the West Indies into a strong position on the opening day of the third Test against Australia in Dominica.

Shillingford, the first Dominican to play on home soil in a Test match, claimed 4-77 from 34 overs as Australia reached 7-212 at stumps today.

That score was boosted by a strong counter-attack late in the day by Mitchell Starc (24no) and Matthew Wade (22no), who combined to add an unbroken 43 late in the day to give Australia hope of posting a score in excess of 250.

But the day belonged to Shillingford, who led the Windies out onto the field before the start of play and picked up the wickets of David Warner, Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey in the best display of his seven-Test career.

Ravi Rampaul (1-44) and Darren Sammy (1-32) had removed Ed Cowan (1) and Shane Watson (41) before Shillingford's show begun with the dismissal of Warner for an uncharacteristic 50 off 136 balls.

Ponting - who passed Rahul Dravid to become the second highest scorer of Test runs during his innings of 23 - and Michael Clarke (24) both fell caught in close as Shillingford extracted bounce and turn from the Windsor Park wicket.

Then came the highlight of the day when Sammy took a diving one-handed catch at slip to remove Hussey (10) and give Shillingford his fourth wicket.

Kemar Roach (1-43) ensured all four Windies bowlers ended the day with a wicket when he removed Ryan Harris (4) but Warner felt Starc and Wade's partnership could prove vital.

"If we can get 250 it's probably par, then we've just got to sum it up in the second innings,'' Warner said.

"I reckon day four or day five, chasing 200 or 250 is going to be very tough for either team.''

Shillingford said the Windies were hoping to keep Australia under 250 when play resumes.

"I wouldn't say they got away,'' Shillingford said.

"Cricket is a patient game. It's not where you can just go blasting batsmen.

"The guys were positive as well so it's a matter of coming back tomorrow and taking them out as quick as possible.''

- AAP