Clarke strikes as Marshall chases

Stuart Clark made a much-needed breakthrough for Australia as Xavier Marshall led West Indies' mammoth chase of 475 but a string of dropped catches threatened to dampen the visitors' spirits as they searched for a 2-0 series win. At tea on the fourth day West Indies were 99 for 1 with Xavier Marshall on 42 and Ramnaresh Sarwan on 18, and they needed another 376 to complete a highly unlikely victory.

Marshall was his usual lively self, cover-driving against the fast men and taking quick singles to keep the fielders on their toes. He took yet another blow to the helmet - his third for the match - when he tried to hook Stuart Clark but Australia were frustrated by his confidence after he was dropped twice earlier in his innings.

Australia's fielding was unusually substandard and nothing went right for them until Brett Lee snared a chance at mid-on off Clark to remove Chris Gayle for 26. The Lee-Clark combination was a fitting one as both men had suffered from missed opportunities in their opening spells.

Gayle had a life on 8 when he drove a Lee half-volley on the up to mid off, where Beau Casson, who had taken a goalkeeper-style catch in the same spot in the first innings, put down a much simpler opportunity. Gayle could also have been run out on 20 when Lee ran in from mid-on and his throw at the bowler's end missed, while Gayle was loitering halfway down the pitch after a mix-up with Marshall.

Marshall was also a recipient of some good fortune, dropped on 1 and 22. The early miss came when Simon Katich's horror run in the cordon continued - he put down two at first slip in the first innings - and he grassed a straightforward chance at third slip off Lee. Brad Haddin then gave Clark a headache by dropping a gettable one-hander diving to his right after Marshall edged a cracking Clark legcutter.

It was hardly what Australia needed having given themselves five sessions to dismiss West Indies on a pitch that, while still offering some bounce, was becoming easier to bat on. Michael Clarke and Haddin guided Australia through a subdued morning as they gradually built up the total with West Indies, by the end of the session, making no attempt at dismissing them and simply waiting for Ponting's declaration.

His decision came at lunch with the score on 439 for 5, denying both men the chance to score half-centuries with Clarke unbeaten on 48 and Haddin on 45. The first session went largely as expected, although a pair of wickets for Sulieman Benn was just reward after he bowled a marathon spell that had started midway through the third afternoon.

Benn went for some boundaries off both batsmen - Haddin clobbered him down the ground for six after taking three fours off his previous over - but he always looked dangerous. Coming around the wicket to the right-handers he curved the ball beautifully and pitched several in line with off stump, jagging them away sharply to beat the bat.

Benn finished with 3 for 154 from 47 after Katich was caught driving on the up to cover for 157 and Andrew Symonds went in similar fashion for 2. But by that stage the lead was already approaching 400 and the only bowling that was really going to matter in terms of the match result was that of Australia.