The West Indies were struggling to keep alive their series with Australia after a failed attempt at a fightback in the second Test at Bellerive Oval on Saturday.
Already trailing 1-0 in the three-match series after being thrashed by 379 runs in Brisbane, the tourists were facing another big defeat after slumping to 82 for four in their second innings on the third day.
They required a further 175 runs to make the Australians bat again when play ended an hour early on Saturday because of rain.
"The tail hasn't been batting well but hopefully we can get some partnerships going,." West Indian fast bowler Fidel Edwards told a news conference.
Australia led by 257 on the first innings after they were bowled out after lunch for 406, but were eyeing an even bigger lead until their own batting collapsed.
They had resumed on 256 for one in reply to West Indies' dismal first day effort of 149, but lost six wickets for 68 runs in the morning session as the tourists briefly threatened to mount a comeback.
Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne made a combined total of just nine runs but a stylish 60 on debut from Brad Hodge and a cavalier display from the tailenders helped push the total past 400.
Hodge has been on the fringe of selection for years and acted as 12th man six times before finally getting his call-up in Hobart.
"It was certainly everything I hoped it would be and hopefully there'll be a few more," he said.
Any hopes of a West Indian revival were dashed the moment they started their second innings. Glenn McGrath trapped Chris Gayle lbw for four in the first over then had Devon Smith caught by Ricky Ponting at slip and the tourists limped to tea on 27 for two.
Australia's express paceman Brett Lee captured another two wickets before the rain offered a stay of execution.
Ramnaresh Sarwan fell for 32 when he edged a catch to wicketkeeper Gilchrist then West Indian captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul departed for 10 in similar fashion.
LARA MILESTONE
Brian Lara was unbeaten on 18 at stumps after overtaking Steve Waugh as the second highest run scorer in Tests while Marlon Samuels was on two and batting with a runner after hurting his leg.
Lara has now scored 10,934 Test runs, seven more than Waugh, and 240 behind Allan Border's world record of 11,174.
The Australians made a slow start to the day with Ponting bowled by Fidel Edwards for 17 off the first ball he faced and Clarke departing for five when he was brilliantly caught by substitute fielder Dwayne Smith off Edwards.
Clarke's dismissal is sure to increase scrutiny about his place in the team after the selectors dumped two other middle-order batsmen following the Ashes loss to England.
The 24-year-old has not scored a Test century for a year and his last five innings have been 39, 5, 5, 14 not out and 5.
Mike Hussey, playing in his second Test after replacing the injured Justin Langer, top scored in Hobart with 137 and would be expected to retain his place when Langer returns.
Symonds, playing his first Test in 20 months, was run out for one after a direct hit from Smith, although there was some confusion when the scoreboard initially flashed up not out after the third umpire hit the wrong button.
Gilchrist was caught by Smith at point for two then Warne was caught at second slip by Ramnaresh Sarwan off Daren Powell for one.
Lee nicked Edwards behind on 18 while Hodge was trapped lbw by Corey Collymore after hitting nine boundaries in an impressive start to his Test career before the innings ended with another run out.
"Getting nine wickets today was a good comeback and hopefully things will get better," Edwards said.
Scorecard
West Indies (1st innings): 149 (C. Gayle 56; G. McGrath 4-31)
Australia (1st innings):
M Hayden c Bravo b Collymore 110
M Hussey c Sarwan b Bravo 137
R Ponting b Edwards 17
M Clarke c sub (D R Smith) b Edwards 5
B Hodge lbw Collymore 60
A Symonds run out (sub [DR Smith]) 1
A Gilchrist c sub (D R Smith) b Bravo 2
S Warne c Sarwan b Powell 1
B Lee c Ramdin b Edwards 18
S MacGill not out 20
G McGrath run out (Chanderpaul/Ramdin) 14
Extras: (lb 6, w 3, nb 12) 21
Total: (all out, 109.4 overs) 406
Fall of wickets: 1-231, 2-257, 3-271, 4-306, 5-315, 6-317, 7-324, 8-362, 9-377, 10-406.
Bowling: Edwards 27.4-2-116-3 (6nb), Powell 24-2-117-1 (3nb), Collymore 28-11-54-2 (2nb), Bravo 23-2-96-2 (1nb, 3w), Gayle 7-0-17-0.
West Indies (2nd innings):
C Gayle b McGrath 4
D Smith c Ponting b McGrath 8
R Sarwan c Gilchrist b Lee 32
B Lara not out 18
S Chanderpaul c Gilchrist b Lee 10
M Samuels not out 2.
Extras: (lb 6, nb 2) 8
Total: (4 wickets, 24 overs) 82
To bat: D Bravo, D Ramdin, D Powell, F Edwards, C Collymore.
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-27, 3-62, 4-76.
Bowling: McGrath 7-3-14-2, Lee 11-1-49-2 (2nb), Symonds 1-0-2-0, Warne 5-0-11-0.
