Trinidad: The second Test between Australia and the West Indies appears headed for a draw after a rain-interrupted fourth day in Trinidad.

Resuming on day four at 252 for 9, still 59 runs behind Australia's first-innings total of 311, the West Indies could add just five runs to their overnight score before Michael Beer (2-56) trapped Carlton Baugh lbw for 21 in the first over of the day's play.

Beer finished with two wickets, with his spin partner Nathan Lyon doing most of the damage on day three with 5-58.

The Australians were on 3-73 when rain arrived at 1:35pm local time, and the umpires called a halt to the day's play two-and-a-half hours later.

The tourists will resume on the last day holding a lead of 127 runs with Ricky Ponting (32 not out) and Michael Clarke (three not out) at the crease.

The Australians made a sluggish start to their knock on a turning Queen's Park Oval track, with paceman Fidel Edwards operating with off-spinner Shane Shillingford.

Openers Ed Cowan (20) and David Warner (17) took the score to 26 before the latter fell victim to Kemar Roach (3-27) by edging one to Darren Bravo in the slips.

Three balls later Roach had his second victim when a ball kept low to Shane Watson (0) and took out his off stump.

Ponting and Cowan steadied the Australian ship until rain interrupted play for an hour-and-a-half, but four overs after the resumption Roach - who claimed five wickets in Australia's first dig - took his third scalp when he had Cowan out lbw for 20.

Ponting and Clarke managed to keep the West Indies out until the next rain delay, but with seven wickets still in hand both teams have a lot of work to do on day five if they are to force a result.

Brief scores
Australia 311 (Hussey 73, Watson 56, Roach 5-105) and 73 for 3 (Ponting 32*, Roach 3-27)
West Indies 257 (Chanderpaul 94, Deonarine 55, Lyon 5-68)
Status Australia lead by 127 runs