Drizzling Brisbane rain has saved Australia's bacon and tormented a West Indies outfit poised for a breakthrough tri series win at the Gabba.

The desperate Windies had Australia in deep trouble at 5-43 after 11 overs chasing a revised target of 195 off 28 overs in the weather-affected cricket clash when the heavens opened to wash out the game.

Their pace attack backed up the superb batting of century-making opener Wavell Hinds, who led the tourists to a respectable 9-263 from their 50 overs.

Left-armer Pedro Collins (3-8 off four overs) then took the initiative by spearing through the home side's top-order, starting with jaded home-town hero Matthew Hayden (6) in the third over.

Ian Bradshaw followed suit with the scalp of Adam Gilchrist and Australia was 2-12 when rain intervened for the first time after five overs.

A two hour 20 minute delay saw the target revised, leaving the unbeaten series leaders 23 overs to get 183 at just under eight an over.

Damien Martyn hit two of Merv Dillon's first three balls after the resumption to the boundary but it belied the trouble to come.

Next over Collins trapped Ricky Ponting lbw for 2 and had an out-of-sorts Andrew Symonds caught behind for his fourth duck in five matches for the world champions.

Soon after they were 5-30 when Michael Clarke swatted a Dillon bumper to mid-on and the Windies were well on track to opening their series account.

Drizzling rain returned and while the umpires stood their ground for two overs, a protesting Martyn postulated to the umpires and he finally got his wish and retired to the comfort and safety of the pavilion.

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