Michael Clarke’s patient half-century halted a West Indies charge in the first Test in Barbados on Monday.

At tea on day three the Australians were 4-200, still trailing by 249 runs in the first innings, but Clarke was unbeaten on 67 to provide some resistance at Kensington Oval.

He was staring at the possibility of having to follow on when Shane Watson (39) was dismissed second ball after the lunch break, edging an expansive drive to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh off Kemar Roach to leave the tourists 4-133.

But Clarke found a willing partner in Michael Hussey (25no) and they added an unbeaten 67 for the fifth wicket to take Australia to tea.

The captain was fortunate to even make the lunch break however, successfully challenging a caught behind decision off Windies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (0-50) when there appeared little video evidence to support him.

Clarke’s dismissal at that stage would have been vital after Ed Cowan (14), David Warner (42) and Ricky Ponting (4) had all been removed by the hosts in the morning session.

Cowan and Warner both fell to Windies skipper Darren Sammy (2-33), who drew the openers into edges with his nagging length, while Ponting was left stranded after a horrendous mix-up with Watson to be run out following some sharp fielding by Kraigg Brathwaite.

After Watson’s demise to Roach (1-56), both Hussey and Clarke faced a stern examination by Bishoo, who bowled 17 overs straight in his second spell.