Australia 156 runs away from completing clean sweep in Test series against West Indies

Australia bowled out West Indies for 193 in the second Test of the series in Brsibane as the home team now stands 156 runs short of completing a clean-sweep in th two-game contest against the Caribbean team. Kirk McKenzie topped the scoring charts for the away side with 41, but the duo of Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon picked three wickets each to make light work of West Indies.

The hosts reached 60-2 from 19 overs at stumps, having boldly declared at 289-9 in their first innings after dismissing the West Indies for 311. The Caribbean seamers, minus Shamar Joseph who was injured by a toe-crushing Mitchell Starc yorker, made good use of the night conditions but have an uphill battle ahead to defend a modest 216.

“One thing’s for sure, we’re going to fight to the very end,” McKenzie told ABC radio. Usman Khawaja was caught-behind for 10 off Alzarri Joseph (1-19), while Marnus Labuschagne added five before Justin Greaves (1-23) had him gobbled up in the cordon. Steve Smith and Cameron Green remain unbeaten overnight on 33 and nine respectively.

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Day three’s first dismissal came by way of Green (1-37), who had touring captain Kraigg Brathwaite caught driving a full delivery after compiling a laboured 16. McKenzie looked particularly comfortable playing straight down the ground and showed positive intent, but that confidence brought about his downfall when he was trapped lbw missing a slog-sweep facing his first ball from Lyon.

Australia’s premier spinner shouldered much of the workload in the second session and dried up the runs as Pat Cummins regularly rotated his fast bowlers and utilised short spells to combat the stifling heat. Redeeming himself after two earlier drops, Smith held Alick Athanaze (35) at slip to secure Lyon’s second.

But it was a sharp backhander from Travis Head at short leg to run out a devastated Kavem Hodge, who resisted for 74 balls to make 29, that shifted momentum back to the hosts. Gully-specialist Green pouched Joshua Da Silva (7) on the second attempt to give Starc (1-45) his first wicket. The fielding fumbles extended to keeper Alex Carey who almost grassed a regulation edge from Justin Greaves (33) off Hazlewood, who also had Alzarri Joseph caught for nought.

Five straight maidens underscored how difficult scoring had become under lights and the innings ended after 72.4 overs when Shamar Joseph retired hurt on 3. Wet weather, which has affected parts of Queensland state throughout the week, is forecast in Brisbane for the final two days of the match.

(With Reuters inputs)