Australia finished day two of the Sabina Park Test in a commanding position after another frenetic day where 15 wickets tumbled, leaving West Indies struggling to stay afloat. With the hosts bowled out for 143 in their first innings, Australia managed to stretch their lead to 181 runs, even as West Indiesโ pace attack clawed back under the lights.
West Indies Fight Back Under Lights
After Australia posted 225, West Indies were bundled out with their batters repeatedly undone by precise seam bowling. Scott Boland, brought in for Nathan Lyon, took 3 for 34 while Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood shared four wickets. Though Australia earned an 82-run advantage, the real drama began as the floodlights took hold during their second innings.
Shamar Joseph struck early, removing Sam Konstas for a duck with a delivery that climbed from a short length. Konstasโ poor series continued, ending with just 50 runs at an average of 8.33.
“๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐,” ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.
Usman Khawaja battled hard but chopped on against Joseph after laboring past 300 balls faced in the series. The big moment came when Alzarri Joseph cranked up his pace, delivering the fastest over of the series at 147kph. He eventually snared Steven Smith with a searing delivery after an earlier dropped chance.
Australia’s Batters Struggle in Tough Conditions
Travis Head and Cameron Green offered brief resistance. Head fell to a sharp slip catch after he and Green narrowly escaped a calamitous run-out, with Green eventually ending unbeaten on 42 in a gritty knock that was worth much more than the scoreboard suggested.
Alex Carey had a torrid time, first struck on the helmet by a bouncer that required repairs, then edging a wild drive to slip. Beau Webster was undone by a delivery that seamed late, leaving Australia 99 for 6 at stumps.
“๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐,” ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ . “๐พ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐.”
Earlier in the day, West Indies had applied themselves during a cagey morning session. Brandon King looked assured before falling lbw to Hazlewood, while John Campbell survived a near run-out when the umpires controversially ruled no appeal was made, despite replays suggesting otherwise.
Roston Chase ground out 70 deliveries before edging Cummins, and Mikyle Louis played perhaps the worst shot of the innings, swiping across the line to leave his team at 95 for 5.
Despite missed chances from Carey behind the stumps, Australia kept tightening the screw. Scott Boland produced a delivery that nipped past Shai Hopeโs inside edge, and Justin Greaves was run out brilliantly by Konstas returning for a third run.
As the Test heads into day three, Australia hold a significant advantage, but the unpredictable conditions under lights mean the match remains wide open.
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