Australia tighten grip despite West Indies fightback

AUSTRALIA SURGED to a commanding 181-run lead over the West Indies by stumps on day two of the third Test at Sabina Park, finishing on 99-6 in their second innings after bowling out the hosts for 143 earlier in the day.

Despite a spirited fightback from the West Indies’ bowlers, the hosts remain firmly in control after posting 225 in their first innings.

Resuming the second day on 16 for one, overnight batsman Brandon King on eight and captain Roston Chase on three negotiated the first seven overs with King showing his familiarity with the Sabina surface with a couple of handsome off-drives to the boundary.

With the score on 28, King played around an inswinging delivery from Josh Hazelwood to be trapped in front for 14.

John Campbell, who sustained a collarbone injury while fielding on the opening day, was next to come in, and he and Chase navigated the next hour before the latter survived a caught-behind opportunity, after Scott Boland overstepped and a no-ball was called.

The watch-and-wait game prolonged until 20 minutes before the scheduled first break when Chase, on 18, edged Pat Cummins to slip to leave the hosts on 58-3.

On the resumption, Campbell looked to step up the tempo with a beautiful cover drive off Josh Hazelwood, but his aggression didn’t last much longer as Scott Boland got one to dart back from outside off stump. Campbell offered no stoke and was adjudged lbw for 36 to leave the Windies precariously placed at 82 for four.

The Aussies sensed blood and decided to step on the accelerator, and it was in short order that they would pick up another scalp.

With the score on 95, Mikyle Louis faced 30 balls and mustered up just seven runs, before he was bowled by Hazelwood.

Shai Hope had helped himself to three lovely boundaries, but Boland had something up his sleeve and sent back the Bajan with one that nipped back and hit the stumps, to the bewilderment of the local fans.

The inexplicable run-out of Justin Greaves for 18 swiftly signalled the demise of the West Indies innings, which quickly folded at 143 in 52.1 overs.

Boland finished with three for 34, while Hazelwood and Cummins finished with two wickets each.

With an 82-run lead, the Australians were looking to press home the advantage. However, their second innings faltered against a spirited West Indies bowling attack under lights, as they finished at 99-6 with a lead of 181 runs heading into the third day of the Test match.

The pep talk inside the West Indies dressing room seemed to have worked, as the visitors suffered early setbacks with Shamar Joseph striking twice in quick succession, removing Sam Konstas for a duck and Usman Khawaja for 14.

The experienced Steven Smith, on five, fell soon after, trapped lbw by Alzarri Joseph, leaving Australia reeling at 28-3.

Cameron Green stood firm with an unbeaten 42, but wickets continued to tumble at the other end. Travis Head with 16 and Beau Webster, 13, showed brief resistance before falling to Justin Greaves and Alzarri Joseph, respectively.

Joseph then claimed his third victim. After hitting Alex Carey in the head with a sharp bouncer, he had the wicketkeeper caught for a duck in the same over, leaving Australia at a precarious 69-6.

Captain Pat Cummins, five not out, survived a testing spell to remain alongside Green with a dogged unbeaten 42 at stumps, but with only the tail enders left, Australia’s hopes of setting a daunting target now rest on their lower order.

The West Indies bowlers, led by Alzarri Joseph, 3-19, and Shamar Joseph, 2-26, exploited the night conditions superbly, keeping the pressure on throughout the session.

With the match finely poised, day three promises a gripping battle as the West Indies look to restrict Australia’s lead and mount a chase on a pitch that has aided the bowlers.