Roseau, Dominica (AP): Newcomer Shane Dowrich and veteran Marlon Samuels shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 60 Friday to breathe life into the West Indies in the first test against Australia at Windsor Park.
The West Indies, after conceding a first-innings lead of 170 on day two, went to lunch on 97-3 in their second innings, still trailing by 73 runs.
Dowrich, on debut, was unbeaten 31 off 101 balls. The 23-year-old struck two boundaries in a stoic innings which spanned 145 minutes.
Samuels, in his 59th test, struck two fours in 26 not out off 81 balls.
The hosts, resuming precariously poised on 25-2, dipped into deeper trouble in the first half hour of the morning when Darren Bravo fell for 5.
The left-hander drove Josh Hazlewood uppishly to mid-off where David Warner dived to his right and hauled in a fine, two-handed catch.
Dowrich and Samuels stonewalled the Australians for the remainder of the session, escaping a few anxious moments along the way.
Dowrich was inches away from giving Hazlewood a second scalp when he drove just short of extra cover while Samuels battled against off-spinner Nathan Lyon's big turn.
The pair gradually began to blossom in the final half hour before the interval, finally finding the boundary and surviving to lunch.
Samuels survived a sharp stumping appeal off Lyon in the final over of the session, Brad Haddin just taking off the bails before the batsmen lifted his foot.
Hazlewood (1-6) was the only successful bowler of the day while left-armers Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson (1-19).
