Cricket: Windies take advantage

Spinner Sulieman Benn snared five wickets to give West Indies an edge over Australia on day three of the second Test in Adelaide.

Benn's Test best return was the key in restricting Australia to 439 all out yesterday - a dozen runs shy of the Windies' first-innings total. At stumps, West Indies were 0-23 from four overs in their second innings, an overall lead of 35 runs with two days remaining. Benn claimed his five wickets yesterday as Australia lost 10 wickets for 265.

Shane Watson (96), Simon Katich (80), Michael Clarke (71) and Brad Haddin (55no) made significant contributions.

Benn finished with 5-155 from 53 overs while paceman Kemar Roach claimed three wickets.

The lanky left-armer's success began with the second ball yesterday when he dashed the maiden Test century dream of Watson.

The Australian, without adding to his overnight score, missed an attempted pull shot from a short ball and was bowled.

His opening partner Katich soon became Benn's second victim, getting an inside edge on to his pads which lobbed to Adrian Barath at short leg. Captain Ricky Ponting on 36, smacked a trademark pull shot from Roach's bowling straight to Dwayne Bravo at midwicket.

Roach impressed with a sustained spell of fast bowling either side of lunch, and was deservedly rewarded with the scalp of Mike Hussey, who battled for 41 from 126 balls before feathering an edge to 'keeper Denesh Ramdin from an attempted cut.

Benn then made a rapid double strike after tea, dismissing Marcus North (16) and Michael Clarke (71).

North was unlucky - a missed sweep attempt hit his leg before the ball scraped the back of his bat on the way to leg slip. Clarke could not blame ill fortune for the end to his polished knock - the vice-captain half-heartedly waved his bat outside off stump in neither defence nor offence and snicked a catch to first slip.

Mitchell Johnson (7) quickly came and went, caught in the slips to give Darren Sammy his first victim as Australia, who had resumed in a position of power at 0-174, toppled to 7-377.

Nathan Hauritz (17) combined with 'keeper-batsman Haddin in a 41-run stand before becoming another Roach victim, gloving a hook attempt to Ramdin.

Benn completed his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket by dismissing Peter Siddle for a duck, the Australian edging an attempted drive to gully. Haddin registered his half-century with a six over midwicket from Benn's bowling before No 11 Doug Bollinger was run out trying to let his partner retain the strike.

- AAP