Australia need 47 to win the first Test against the West Indies after dismissing the hosts for 216 in Dominica.

A 144-run fourth-wicket stand by debutant Shane Dowrich (70) and Marlon Samuels (74) lifted the Windies past a 170-run first-innings deficit and gave the hosts hope of setting a defendable target in the fourth innings.

But Dowrich’s dismissal just before tea on day three opened the floodgates as Australia claimed 7-35 to wrap up the hosts’ innings.

Josh Hazlewood (2-17) began the rout with the dismissal of Dowrich before Mitchell Starc (4-28) wrapped up the tail with the second new ball.

Mitchell Johnson (2-38) and Nathan Lyon (2-67) were the other wicket-takers for Australia.

Resuming on 2-25 and still needing another 145 to make Australia bat again, a quick finish seemed likely when Darren Bravo (5) was caught brilliantly by David Warner off Hazlewood to reduce the hosts to 3-37.

But Dowrich and Samuels combined to halt the tourists’ momentum.

The 23-year-old Dowrich, who averaged more than 50 in the regional four-day competition in the Caribbean this summer, brought up his maiden half-century after lunch as the Windies threatened to post a dangerous score.

The 144-run stand is the sixth highest fourth-wicket partnership by the West Indies against Australia in the Caribbean.

But it was all in vain as Dowrich’s departure sparked a flurry of wickets either side of tea.

Jermaine Blackwood (10) was stumped after he missed a Lyon delivery while charging down the wicket, so stranded even a Brad Haddin fumble couldn’t save him.

Samuels fell four balls later when he couldn’t resist hooking Mitchell Johnson and was caught on the boundary at fine leg for the second time in the match.

With the 34-year-old gone, Starc came on to claim 3-2 in three overs to ensure Australia a great chance of wrapping up the match and taking a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.