Australia collapse after Windies fold for 312

The West Indies staged a strong fight back after being dismissed for 312 in their first innings on Day 3 of the third Test against Australia at the WACA in Perth on Friday.

Chasing Australia's massive first innings total of 520 for 7 declared, the tourists, resuming on 214 for two, lost six wickets for 32 runs after lunch and folded 208 runs behind.

Doug Bollinger, with five wickets for 70 in his second Test, and Nathan Hauritz (3 for 66) did the damage as the West Indies scored just two runs off ten balls while losing their last four wickets.

But the Aussies, deciding not to enforce the follow-on, found themselves in trouble in the final session, being reduced to 8-137 in their second innings, a lead of 345 runs at stumps.

Even injured captain Ricky Ponting could not stem the fall of wickets, dismissed for 2 after coming in at number nine.

Nathan Hauritz (11) and Clint McKay (1) were unbeaten as 16 wickets fell for 235 runs in the day.

Dwayne Bravo bowled 15 overs unchanged to return figures of 3 for 34 and Sulieman Benn claimed 2 for 26.

- Benn banned for two ODIs

Meanwhile, West Indies spinner Benn was handed a two-ODI ban while Australia's Brad Haddin and Mitchel Johnson were let off with fines after being found guilty of conduct contrary to the Spirit of Cricket.

The players were involved in an ugly altercation during the second day of the ongoing Test.

Two suspension points in the enhanced code means a ban of one Test or two ODIs, depending whichever comes first for the player.

Hence, Benn will miss the first two ODIs against Australia in Melbourne and Adelaide on February 7 and February 9 next year respectively.

Benn was charged with an article 2.2.11 offence, while both Haddin and Johnson were charged with an article 2.1.8 offence. Both these offences prohibit players from conducting themselves in any way that is not in accordance with the spirit of the game.

For Level 2 offences players have the right to appeal against match referee's decision within 48 hours of notification of that decision, while for a first Level 1 offence the match referee's decision is final and binding.

The incident that led to the charges being laid took place during the 118th over of Australia's first innings. On the first ball of the over, Benn collided with non-striker Johnson while trying to stop the ball off his own bowling.

Two balls later, Haddin became involved when he pointed his bat at the bowler who had shaped to throw at the striker's end with the batsman standing in his crease.

The three players then got embroiled in a heated altercation at the end of the 118th over with the 28-year-old from Barbados pointing at the Australia wicketkeeper over the shoulder of Johnson.

The Australia players pleaded guilty at an early stage of the hearing, conducted by match referee Chris Broad, but Benn's hearing was held at the close of the second day's play after the spinner pleaded not guilty to the charges laid against him.