Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Beer and James Pattinson each claimed an lbw verdict in the evening session to put the tourists in control as they chase a series-clinching win.

Hilfenhaus struck in the fourth over of West Indies' innings, Kraigg Brathwaite trapped in front by an outswinger for a duck - a decision he failed to overturn on review.

Left-arm spinner Beer, recalled for his second Test appearance 15 months after his debut in the final match of the last Ashes series, was handed the new ball.

He justified Australia captain Michael Clarke's faith with the scalp of Adrian Barath (7), playing back to Beer's arm ball.

And when Kieran Powell (19) followed to the same mode of dismissal to Pattinson's first delivery, West Indies were teetering on 38-3.

Darren Bravo (16no) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (1no) survived through to the close but will resume on the third morning still 262 runs behind on a Queen's Park Oval pitch that is only going to get more difficult to bat on.

Partnership

Michael Hussey had earlier made 73 as Australia advanced their first innings from an overnight 208-5 to 311 all out on the stroke of tea.

Paceman Kemar Roach, armed with the second new ball, made a breakthrough in the second over of the day, Matthew Wade edging to Bravo at slip without adding to his overnight 11.

But West Indies were frustrated for the remainder of the session as Hussey and Pattinson forged an 89-run stand for the seventh wicket either side of lunch and a rain delay.

Hussey was given a life on 48 when wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh, who dropped the same batsman on five on day one, fumbled a stumping chance off Shane Shillingford (3-92).

Hussey went to his 28th Test half-century from 137 balls, including four boundaries, but his patience finally snapped when part-time spinner Narsingh Deonarine (2-32) was introduced to the attack.

The left-hander offered a waist high catch to Brathwaite in the covers, sparking a collapse that saw Australia's last four wickets go down for 14 runs.

Pattinson, who had mixed watchful defence with the occasional aggressive stroke in reaching 32 from 119 balls, departed in the next over, lobbing a leading edge to Bravo after playing too early at a Shillingford delivery.

And Roach cleaned up the last two, Hilfenhaus and Beer, in the space of three balls to complete figures of 5-105, his third Test five-wicket haul.