Australia takes lead behind Symonds' 70

An unbeaten 70 by Andrew Symonds and three cheap wickets from Stuart Clark helped Australia retain the edge against West Indies at the close of day two of the opening Test.

Australia, overnight 301 for four, was bowled out for 431 a half hour before tea.

Symonds led the visitors on day two with a 115-ball knock that started patiently and finished aggressively, and included eight fours and two sixes.

West Indies replied with 115 for three with Clark's accuracy rewarded with three for 18 from eight probing overs.

The experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul (25 not out) and Runako Morton (23 not out) shared an unbeaten stand of 47 to boost the home team in the early evening at Sabina Park.

West Indies, through Fidel Edwards' five-wicket haul and the persevering medium pace of Darren Sammy, pegged back Australia in the first two sessions.

Australia began the day confidently as Brad Hodge, 53 overnight, added three crunching boundaries. But Edwards quickly dented the momentum when he induced an edged cut and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin claimed a fine, one-handed catch.

Hodge's 67 included eight fours and a six off 122 balls.

Mitchell Johnson compiled 22 off 53 balls before he chipped a catch to mid-on to provide Sammy with his first wicket midway through the morning session.

The 24-year-old Sammy, in only his fourth Test, completed a good morning for West Indies when he added Brad Haddin's wicket as Australia lunched at 372 for seven.

The new Aussie wicketkeeper, on debut, under-edged a pull after compiling 11 off 35 balls.

Edwards returned after the break to trap Brett Lee (4) leg before and Australia slipped to 399 for nine when Daren Powell claimed Clark (3) to a lofted catch to mid-on.

Symonds then changed tempo and swatted Sammy for 16 in one over, moving to his half century with a six over long-on that Ramnaresh Sarwan just failed to haul in.

Symonds and last man Stuart MacGill frustrated West Indies in a stand of 32 before Edwards uprooted MacGill's middle stump to claim five for 104, his sixth five-wicket haul in Tests.

"I thought I bowled most of my balls in the right areas and that's what the coach has been asking for," Edwards said.

West Indies openers Devon Smith and Brenton Parchment confidently added 47 for the first wicket either side of tea to energize a bank holiday crowd of close to 7,000.

But Clark turned the match in a miserly spell from the George Headley Stand end.

Smith batted fluently for 32 off 53 balls before he deflected a defensive stroke back onto his stumps.

Clark soon added the key wicket of captain Sarwan (7), who sliced a cut behind to Haddin.

Parchment, after facing 60 deliveries for 9, followed in Clark's next over. Haddin again claimed a clear edge as the batsman pushed forward.

Morton and Chanderpaul revived the home team from the peril of 68 for three, growing in confidence once Clark's spell ended.

But Morton did enjoy a slice of luck as umpire Aleem Dar denied a confident caught behind appeal off Johnson just before the end.