Sixteen wickets fell on the third day of the third test match at the WACA as West Indies clawed back into the game in a manner of a couple of hours. By the time the stumps were drawn, the Aussies were ahead by 345 runs but with only two wickets standing to set up an exciting fourth day. 
Resuming from their overnight score of 214/2, the tourists collapsed rather expectedly. Ramnaresh Sarwan failed to add to his overnight total and was consumed in the very first over of the day for 42, while Narsingh Deonaraine failed to keep his drive off Mitchell Johnson on the ground to be caught in the covers. 
Despite Dwayne Bravo and Brendan Nash’s partnership of 46 runs for the fifth wicket, they did not look too settled. It was looking increasingly evident that a wicket was around the corner, and Bravo edged an out-swinger from Bollinger to the wicket-keeper to trigger an Indian collapse. The rest of the tourists added 27 runs only and lost the rest of the five wickets to a combination of Bollinger and Nathan Hauritz. Both the bowlers scalped a couple of wickets in a single over, as West Indies was all-out for 312.
At this stage, the Aussie skipper could have enforced the follow-on with a lead of 208 runs. However, with the WACA pitch expected to become more difficult over the time, Ponting decided to bat again. His idea would have been to score at least 300 and bat the opposition out of the game. As it turned out, the Aussie batting looked even shakier than the West Indies.
After the first wicket had been lost early, Michael Clarke walked out to bat instead of the injured Ponting, and with Shane Watson, got the score to 66/1. West Indies then tried to utilize the strategy of going defensive and bowling outside the off-stump, but the Aussies fell for it and went for their strokes to get out.
Watson was lbw to Gavin Tonge, and after that Clarke edged one to the wicket-keeper. Michael Hussey got a start again but missed out, while Marcus North struggled to a solitary run off 27 balls before getting out.
Haddin hit out a couple of fours and a six, but Benn soon had his revenge from yesterday’s incident by getting him out. Johnson edged one from Bravo in the covers, and the beleaguered Ponting lasted barely six balls before being caught fending at short-leg.
In the end, Australia ended the day at 137/8 and if West Indies can get them out soon on the fourth day, then, a target of around 360 could be an interesting proposition.