Hilfenhaus has West Indies reeling

Hosts West Indies were left reeling as three wickets by Ben Hilfenhaus left them on 4-3 in their second innings here on the fourth day of the first Test with Australia. Hilfenhaus struck after Aussie captain Michael Clarke had declared on 406-9 shortly before tea but giving enough time for the paceman to wreak havoc and leave the hosts with a lead of 47. The match was turned around thanks to the Hilfenhaus spell of three wickets for two runs after both Ryan Harris and Nathan Lyon recorded their highest Test scores of 68 and 40 not out respectively to allow Clarke the unlikely luxury of a declaration. It was a remarkable turnaround in fortunes as the Australians had at one point been 199 runs behind with only three first innings wickets remaining. It looked as though the West Indies would have a commanding first innings lead when, just as they had on the third day, they broke through early on. They hadn't taken the new ball the previous evening because of the poor light but Fidel Edwards had it in his hand first thing on Tuesday. In the fourth over Mike Hussey drove at a ball from Kemar Roach that found the edge and Carlton Baugh dived across in front of first slip to claim the key wicket. Peter Siddle started to duck the second ball that he received from Fidel Edwards but it didn't climb as high as he'd anticipated. As he adjusted the ball looped off the bat where Kirk Edwards took another fine catch in the gully. Australia had lost two wickets for two runs. Harris played positively from the start of his innings and soon caught up with Matthew Wade's total as the pair added 35 useful runs for the eighth wicket. The Australian 'keeper fell for 28 in his first Test innings when he took a wild drive at a wide Fidel Edwards ball that Darren Bravo took easily at second slip. Harris and Hilfenhaus played gutsy innings as they gradually reduced the deficit with Harris passing his top score in Test cricket, made in his last innings against India in Adelaide. The ninth wicket partnership of 44 was finally broken when Hilfenhaus, on 24, played an extravagant shot across the line and Roach's delivery took out the middle stump. The West Indies still had a 120 run lead when last man Lyon came to the crease but the last pair frustrated the home team and played so well that Lyon hit his highest first class score. They had added 76 runs when Clarke decided to declare and let his bowlers have another go at the West Indies batsmen before the tea interval. It proved to be a brilliant move as Hilfenhaus took out the top three batsmen. Barath was comprehensively bowled through the gate for two as the delivery came in after pitching. Two balls later and Kraigg Brathwaite, who had played such a patient innings earlier in the match, had an uncharacteristic go at a wide delivery and Wade took the catch. There was more drama in the next over. Shane Watson opened the bowling with Harris still off the field after his batting efforts and he found the edge of Kirk Edwards bat and Ricky Ponting, diving to his right took a wonderful catch diving to his right. He didn't claim it immediately and the umpires referred it and determined that the ball had pitched just in front of Ponting's hand. It was short relief for Edwards as in the next over he moved across his stumps to another Hilfenhaus delivery and was given out lbw which was confirmed after the West Indies reviewed the decision.