Australian sloppiness gave the West Indies a sniff of an implausible victory as the hosts, closed on 235 for three.

After declaring their second innings on 439 for five, the tourists spurned chance after chance on day four, with centurion Simon Katich again culpable.

Xavier Marshall was the chief beneficiary, battling to 85 before falling to debutant Beau Casson, while Ramnaresh Sarwan (43) also contributed.

West Indies will go into the final day needing another 240 to level the three-match series at 1-1, but effectively with only six wickets in hand as Sewnarine Chattergoon is unable to bat with an ankle injury.

The pattern was set early on in the Windies innings when Katich grassed a simple catch at third slip to deny Brett Lee the wicket of Marshall, opening in place of Chattergoon. Katich can be grateful to have found form with the bat as this was his third straightforward missed chance of the match.

Lee spurned a run-out opportunity, but the breakthrough finally came when Chris Gayle (26) misjudged a pull shot off Stuart Clark, looping the ball up into the air for the leaping Lee to hold on.

With spin at both ends from Michael Clarke and Casson the runs started to dry up, though, and the pressure told when Sarwan was trapped lbw by the former.

Marshall's luck finally ran out when he was on 84. The 22-year-old struck a Casson delivery against his thigh pad, with Phil Jaques at short leg diving to hold a fine catch.

Resuming on 330 for three, Australia lost two early wickets, including Katich (157), to slow left-armer Sulieman Benn. Katich had already recorded his Test best and passed 150 with a drive for four off Dwayne Bravo in the first over of the day. But he mis-timed a drive off Benn shortly after and found found substitute fielder Darren Sammy at short cover.

Andrew Symonds (two) followed in similar fashion in the spinner's next over, Shivnarine Chanderpaul taking the catch in a slightly deeper position. But Clarke (48 not out) and Brad Haddin (45no) took over, adding an unbroken 79 for the fifth wicket before the tourists called time.