Barbados Test set for tense finish

West Indies benefitted from fielding lapses by Australia as they chased a Test record target of 475 in Barbados.

The home side reached 235-3 at the end of day four in the third Test, with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (27) and Dwayne Bravo (30) the not out pair.

Australia had earlier declared on 439-5 after opener Simon Katich finally fell to spinner Sulieman Benn for 157.

But the tourists dropped three catches as Xavier Marshall launched the West Indies run-chase with a stylish 85.

The 22-year-old Jamaican punished Australia for dropping two early chances as he hit 12 fours and a six to reach his highest Test score.

And he had a maiden century in his sights when he became newcomer Beau Casson's first victim in Test cricket as short-leg Phil Jaques picked up a bat-pad catch.

Chanderpaul and Bravo stood firm, however, adding 54 in the final session to keep their side's hopes of reaching the remote target alive, and thus sharing the series 1-1.

Bravo appeared fortunate, however, when a Brett Lee delivery appeared to touch his glove on the way through to the keeper, only for umpire Mark Benson to reject the appeal.

At the start of play, the sole question was how big a lead Australia captain Ricky Ponting wanted before calling a halt to their second innings.

The declaration did not in fact come until after the lunch interval, by which time they had added 109 to their overnight 330-3 for the loss of Katich and Andrew Symonds.

Katich was caught at cover, having batted for more than eight hours in total, and Benn earned further reward for some accurate bowling when Symonds departed after an equally loose stroke which as taken by Chanderpaul.

Left-arm spinner Benn finished with 3-154 from 47 overs of hard work, but he could not separate Michael Clarke (48) and Brad Haddin (45) who put on 79 for the sixth wicket before Ponting called them in.

West Indies were forced to make a change at the top of the order for the start of their reply, with Sewnarine Chattergoon unable to bat after twisting his ankle in the field.

Marshall moved up from his first innings position of number four, having gone in first in the previous match in Antigua.

He should have gone on one, only for Katich to floor a catch at third slip off fast bowler Lee, who was unlucky again when Casson failed to hold a chance offered by Gayle at mid-off.

Stuart Clark was the next bowler to suffer when keeper Haddin was unable to hang onto an edge from Marshall's bat when he was on 22.

It was Clark, however, who finally achieved the breakthrough as Gayle mis-timed a pull and spooned a catch to Lee at mid-on, departing for 21.

Australia had to wait 20 overs for their next success as Marshall added 95 with Ramnaresh Sarwan, with Marshall escaping again as an edge flew through the slip cordon off Mitchell Johnson.

But the introduction of Michael Clarke did the trick for Australia as Sarwan played down the wrong line to an arm-ball which drifted in from outside off stump and he was adjudged leg-before for 43.

Marshall followed nine overs later, and although West Indies avoided further damage, Australia will start the final day as clear favourites to wrap up a win.