West Indies put up a brave fight against Australia on the fourth day of the third Test on Sunday but, despite a spirited 85 from Xavier Marshall, still needed 240 runs for victory with seven wickets remaining.
The touring side, seeking to complete a 2-0 series victory, declared at 439 for five at lunch, setting the hosts a winning target of 475.
In two sessions they picked up the wickets of skipper Chris Gayle, Marshall and Ramnaresh Sarwan and in practice need only six more wickets to win with West Indies closing on 235 for three.
Opening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon suffered a bad ankle injury on Saturday and can only walk with the help of a stick so is unlikely to bat.
The prolific Shivnarine Chanderpaul (27), unbeaten in his last three innings, and all-rounder Dwayne Bravo (30) survived through to the close.
Although the target is not excessive on a wicket which is still playing well, there is little proven batting ability below Denesh Ramdin at number six.
West Indies would also need to break their own record of 418, the highest fourth-innings total to win a Test match set in Antigua against Australia in 2003.
”Anything can happen in cricket, but I certainly love being in our position,” Australia spinner Beau Casson told reporters.
”We’ve got a lot of options, which is a fantastic position to be in. It’s going to be a good game, a good test for us, but we’re up to it,” he said.
Marshall said West Indies were still confident of pulling off an unlikely win.
”The guys will have to come out positive,” he said. ”I think the first few overs will be important. We need to stick them out and take it from there. We always believe.”
There was no indication that the home side were battening down the hatches to play for a draw when opening pair Marshall and Gayle rode their luck to score 50 inside 11 overs.
Marshall was dropped by Simon Katich in the slips off Brett Lee, Casson dropped Gayle and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin failed to hold on to an edge from Marshall.
Gayle was also close to being run out but his good fortune ended when he holed out to Lee off Stuart Clark, a woeful shot from the skipper who dragged a ball from outside off stump over to mid-on.
Sarwan made 43 before he was trapped lbw by the left-arm spin of Michael Clarke, ending a 95-run partnership with Marshall.
Jamaican Marshall, in the Test side despite never having made a first-class century, showed a great range of shots and impressive confidence as he took the attack to the Australians.
But with his maiden ton in sight, Marshall was brilliantly caught by Phil Jaques at short-leg to give debutant spinner Casson his first Test wicket.
Australia’s morning session was enough to give them a massive lead after they had dominated Saturday’s play.
The tourists lost century-maker Katich early after the left-hander added just nine runs to his overnight score of 148.
Sulieman Benn finally got rid off Katich after 488 minutes at the crease, for 157, with substitute Darren Sammy taking a catch at short extra-cover.
Benn struck again to get rid of Andrew Symonds for two, the all-rounder driving a well-flighted delivery to Chanderpaul at cover.
But Clarke (48) and Haddin (45) continued the Australian advance, adding 79 before lunch. – Reuters