Clarke leaves Windies in a spin

Michael Clarke’s match-winning ability with the ball has once more come to the fore in Australia’s third Test against the West Indies in Dominica.

Clarke all but ensured Australia will wrap up a comprehensive victory in the final match of their Caribbean tour when he dismissed Windies veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the final over of day four on Thursday.

The left-arm spinner, who has already won Tests in Mohali and at the SCG with his part-time bowling, successfully referred an LBW call against Chanderpaul to end his vigil on 69 and leave the Windies 5-173 chasing an unlikely 370 for victory at Windsor Park.

The wicket cam after Chanderpaul had once again defied the Australians, passing 50 for the fourth time in five innings in this series, as he shared a 110-run fourth-wicket stand with Darren Bravo (45).

But Clarke’s late strike means Australia will need to pick up five wickets on the final day safe in the knowledge they won’t be bowling again to the 37-year-old left-hander, who became the 10th cricketer to pass 10,000 Test runs during his knock.

“Michael tends to have a little bit of a golden arm,” coach Mickey Arthur said.

“He rocks up, he does a little bit of work and gets it done.

“He got the job done again today – big-match temperament, I suppose.”

Clarke ended the day with 3-34 from 12.1 overs, a vital contribution after Nathan Lyon (0-46) failed to find a way through.

Shane Watson (1-20) had earlier snared the wicket of Bravo to end a partnership that lasted over two hours following Clarke’s dismissals of Kraigg Brathwaite (14) and Kieran Powell (24) which left the hosts reeling at 3-45.

Ben Hilfenhaus (1-14) was the other wicket-taker, removing opener Adrian Barath for a duck before lunch when Ed Cowan plucked a superb diving catch at square leg.

Earlier, Shane Shillingford became the first Windies spinner in 46 years to take 10 wickets in a Test as Australia were dismissed for 259 in their second innings.

Shillingford picked up the scalps of Michael Hussey (32) and Hilfenhaus (six) to finish with 4-100 and complete a fine first Test in front of his home crowd.

Narsingh Deonarine (3-45) and Kemar Roach (3-40) were the other wicket-takers with Roach finishing with 19 wickets at 19.73 in the three-Test series.

Friday’s play begins at 10am (2400 AEST).

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