Marlon Samuels and Shane Dowrich have put on 60 runs for the fourth wicket to keep West Indies alive against Australia in the first Test match in Roseau.

West Indies began the day facing an innings defeat after losing two wickets during the opening overs of their second innings, and it didn't get much better for the home side after Darren Bravo fell for just five.

Samuel arrived at the crease with the score on 37-3 and his team 133 runs adrift of Australia, but the pair dug in deep to put together an unbeaten partnership for 23 overs.

At lunch, Dowrich had scored 31 off 101 deliveries while Samuels was equally reserved in his knock of 26 runs from 81 balls.