ROSEAU – Shane Shillingford claimed 4-77 to put West Indies on top at the end of the first day of the third Test against Australia in Roseau.Needing a win to avoid a series defeat, West Indies looked to be in a spot of trouble when the tourists overcame the early loss of Ed Cowan to reach 84-1.However Dominican off-spinner Shillingford turned the game in the home team’s favour, picking up two wickets either side of the tea interval as Australia ended on 212-7.Ricky Ponting was the second of the slow bowler’s victims, though not before the former Australia skipper had gone past Rahul Dravid into second place on the list of all-time leading run scorers in Test cricket.He moved beyond the India batsman when he reached 23 in his innings, though he failed to add to his total before he was caught at leg slip.By that stage Shillingford had already removed David Warner for an even 50, the left-hander bunting a catch to cover having battled hard for 136 deliveries.No shotOpening partner Cowan had not even managed to last two overs at the start of the day, Ravi Rampaul, selected to replace the injured Fidel Edwards, trapping him lbw for one without offering a shot to one that came back in late.The same bowler should have had Warner soon after, too, only for skipper Darren Sammy to spill a relatively straightforward chance at third slip.The let-off allowed Warner to combine with Shane Watson in an 83-run stand that came to a rather surprising end when the latter was caught by Narsingh Deonarine top-edging a short ball from Sammy.Warner also perished before tea, while Ponting and then Michael Clarke (24)both went to close catches during an inspired spell from Shillingford, who was making the most of the extra bounce on his home surface at Windsor Park.Michael Hussey became his fourth and final victim of the day when he was well pouched by Sammy at slip, while Kemar Roach’s introduction into the attack saw the back of Ryan Harris for just four.At that stage it seemed Australia could even be bowled out in the session, only for an unbroken stand of 43 to see them through to the close at seven down.Matthew Wade reached stumps unbeaten on 22 while left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc - drafted into the team in place of spinner Michael Beer - was 24 not out, including blasting Shillingford for a six in the 90th over.
