West Indies openers with an unbeaten stand of 74 runs at stumps on Day 2 kept them steady in their first innings. However, the home team bowlers struck back quite comfortably on the third day to bowl West Indies for just 283 runs in their first innings taking a convincing lead of 315 runs in the first innings.
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| Image Credits: News18 |
Even though the lead looks humongous against the Windies' weak batting line-up, Australian captain Pat Cummins did not think of enforcing the follow-on. They thought of giving rest to their bowlers instead who bowled 98.2 overs in this innings.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul who was batting on 47* at the end of Day 2 got to his half-century in the very first over on Day 3 (Dec 02). Soon to his dismay, he was dismissed, caught at the first slip, in the same over by Hazlewood. Nkrumah Bonner who walked in at no.3 was hit on the helmet twice during his 47-ball stay at the crease. Though he was fine the first time, he had to walk off the field the second time and did not return.
Shamarh Brooks was named concussion substitute for Bonner who played a crucial role with the bat. He scored 33 runs coming to bat at no. 7. All in all, captain and opener Kraigg Brathwaite scored 64 runs facing 166 deliveries. Jermaine Blackwood (36 off 108) and Jason Holder (27 off 54) made crucial contributions in their middle order after the fall of Brathwaite but couldn't go big.
West Indies were eventually bowled out for just 283 runs conceding a huge lead to the hosts. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins starred with 3 wickets each while Nathan Lyon claimed 2 wickets. Josh Hazlewood and Cameron Green picked up a wicket each. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins completed 200 Test scalps with the wicket of Brathwaite which was his first in this innings.
Australia batted for a brief period in their second innings before stumps on Day 3 scoring 29 runs losing the wicket of Usman Khawaja (5). David Warner (18*) and Marnus Labuschagne (3*) are at the crease as they bulge the lead to 344 runs.
Brief Scores: Australia - 598/4 decl (Marnus Labuschagne - 204, Steven Smith - 200) & 29/1 (David Warner - 18*, Kemar Roach - 1-16) lead West Indies - 283 all out (Kraigg Brathwaite - 64, Pat Cummins - 3-34) by 344 runs at stumps on Day 3
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