BRISBANE, Australia (CMC) – Rookies Adrian Barath and Travis Dowlin hit attractive half-centuries yesterday as West Indies launched their bid to save their four-day first-class match against Queensland Bulls.

Facing a huge deficit of 346 runs on first innings after Queensland piled up 617-7 declared, West Indies finished the third day at Allan Border Field on 133-1, still requiring 213 runs to stave off an innings defeat.

Barath was leading the resurgence with a stroked-filled, unbeaten 65 while Dowlin cracked a measured 53, as West Indies flourished in the evening session after being kept in the field for the better part of two days.

The teenaged Barath stroked nine fours off 114 balls in just over two-and-a-half hours at the crease while Dowlin hit seven boundaries off 100 balls in his 115-minute knock.

Earlier, Nathan Reardon completed the third, maiden first class century of the match when he hammered a robust 147 to extend Queensland’s dominance after they resumed the day on 384-4.

He slammed 15 fours and seven sixes and shared in a 156-run stand for the sixth wicket with captain Chris Simpson whose 73 was equally frenetic, decorated with nine fours and three sixes.

Fast bowling rookie Kemar Roach was rewarded for his efforts, finishing with 3-135 to lead the Windies bowling attack.

Faced with eight overs in a tricky period before tea following Queensland’s declaration, Barath and Dowlin navigated their way safely to the break at 24 without loss before playing with some abandon in the final session.

The first three overs after tea yielded a single run but Dowlin broke the shackles with a pulled boundary off fast bowler Luke Feldman, as the Windies counterattacked.

Dowlin took a liking to the 25-year-old fast bowler, crashing him for three fours in one over as the Guyanese right-hander blossomed.

Not to be left out, the 19-year-old Barath joined the fray with boundaries off fast bowler Nathan Rimmington in one over.

He survived a chance to wicketkeeper Chris Hartley off Reardon when 32 but undaunted by the reprieve continued to play positively.

Dowlin reached his half-century quietly but added just three more runs off 15 balls before he edged medium pacer Reardon to Hartley, attempting to run a ball to third man.

Barath and Narsingh Deonarine, who smashed a six in an unbeaten nine, then added 38 for the second wicket to see the tourists safely to the close.

The right-handed Barath brought the day to a fitting climax, smashing three boundaries in the final over bowled by leg-spinner Daniel Doran.

Earlier, West Indies had a good start when Roach had Chris Hartley caught at the wicket in the day’s third over, after adding two to his overnight 10 to leave Queensland on 386-5.

But Reardon and Simpson then tore into the Windies bowlers with gusto as they piled on the runs to put Queensland on top.