Australia spinner Nathan Lyon claimed 5-15 in 37 balls as West Indies closed day three on 252-9, still 59 short of first-innings parity.
Australia spinner bags five wickets in 37 balls
An inspired spell from Nathan Lyon on the third evening put Australia on the brink of a first-innings lead over West Indies in the second Test in Trinidad.
Lyon claimed 5-15 in 37 deliveries as West Indies collapsed from 230-4 to 252-9 at the close, still 59 runs behind.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (94) and Narsingh Deonarine (55) had earlier led a fightback from the home side, adding 130 either side of lunch and a near two-hour rain delay that prompted an early tea.
But both fell in consecutive Lyon overs, the start of a meltdown that leaves Australia - who would clinch the three-match series with victory - in a strong position with two days remaining.
Rare wicket
The start of play was delayed because of a power failure at the ground which meant no TV pictures and DRS, but, eventually resuming on 49-3 in reply to Australia's 311, Darren Bravo and Chanderpaul took West Indies into three figures before a rare wicket for Michael Hussey (1-19) broke the stand.
Medium pacer Hussey, introduced into the attack ahead of Shane Watson, made Bravo his seventh Test scalp in 72 matches when the left-hander was undone by some away seam movement and trapped in front on the back leg.
Bravo used his side's last review, more in hope than expectation, and was quickly sent on his way for 38.
But Chanderpaul continued to defy Australia alongside Deonarine, the fifth-wicket duo advancing West Indies to 188-4 when the elements intervened.
Off-spinner Lyon (5-68) hit back for the tourists once the skies had cleared, collecting four wickets in as many overs, and five in total.
Collapse
He started by having Deonarine stumped for 55 and then denied Chanderpaul a century in his next over, straightening one from around-the-wicket into the left-hander's pad.
Chanderpaul's 94 spanned 217 balls and featured 10 fours and a six.
The collapse continued apace, West Indies skipper Darren Sammy (1) finding long-on and Shane Shillingford (4) prodding a bat-pad catch to Ed Cowan at short-leg.
And when Kemar Roach (0) was unfortunate to be given out caught behind down the leg-side, West Indies had slipped from 230-4 to 249-9. Carlton Baugh (17no) and last man Fidel Edwards (0no) survived almost five overs through to stumps.
On a less positive note for Australia, pace bowler James Pattinson (1-40) went off the field in the final session after appearing to hurt his back.
