Australia close in on victory over West Indies in Jamaica
Sunday 14 June 2015 09:02, UK
Australia look set to wrap a victory over West Indies in the second Test in Jamaica after another dominant performance on an eventful third day at Sabina Park.
The tourists, who hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, declared their second innings on 212-2, setting the home side a victory target of 392.
That bold decision by Australia skipper Michael Clarke left West Indies to negotiate eight overs before stumps and it went horribly wrong for them as they lost both openers in the first over to close on 16-2.
Kraigg Brathwaite was bowled by Mitchell Starc for a duck when he got an inside edge on the third delivery of the innings and Rajendra Chandrika then suffered the ignominy of recording a pair on his Test debut when he was caught at gully by Shaun Marsh off Starc (2-1) three balls later.
Darren Bravo (8no) could also have joined them back in the pavilion but he successfully reviewed umpire Ian Gould’s decision to give him out lbw to spinner Nathan Lyon, who he later smashed for six in the final over of the evening session.
Earlier in the day, tailender Jason Holder was left stranded on 82 not out as West Indies were dismissed for 220 in their first innings, a deficit of 179.
Holder, who came in at No 9, swatted the Australian bowlers to all corners of the ground with an aggressive 63-ball knock that included 12 fours and two sixes and allowed the hosts to avoid the follow on after resuming on 143-8.
Kemar Roach hung around for 36 balls as he made seven in a rapid 77-run partnership with Taylor before edging a Josh Hazlewood delivery to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
The end of the innings came two balls later when Hazlewood trapped Jerome Taylor lbw for a duck as the No 11 padded up.
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Right-arm fast bowler Hazlewood was the pick of the Australian attack first time around with 5-38, while Lyon finished with 3-55.
Openers David Warner and Marsh then foiled any hopes West Indies may have had of dismissing Australia cheaply in their second innings as they put on 117 for the first wicket.
Warner made 62 from 110 balls, including seven fours and a six, before he was caught behind by Denesh Ramdin off the bowling of Roach.
Marsh then departed with the score on 163, caught by Holder off a Veerasammy Permaul delivery for 69 from 153 balls, featuring nine fours and a six.
Steve Smith and Clarke kept the pressure on West Indies as they added a further 49 for the third wicket, Clarke (14no) declaring shortly after Smith, who hit 199 in the first innings, had reached his half-century, he ended up 54 not out.
