A career-best performance from West Indies batter Brandon King couldn’t prevent Australia from wrestling back control of the second Test at Grenada’s National Cricket Stadium.
The hosts were 8-226 in the 61st over, still trailing by 60 runs, with tailenders Anderson Phillip (0*) and Shamar Joseph (23*) unbeaten in the middle.
The West Indies were threatening to take a first-innings lead when King cracked a stylish 75, the highest score of the series to date, but a flurry of wickets late in the afternoon session swung momentum back in Australia’s favour.
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In response to Australia’s 286 all out from the previous day, the West Indies got their innings off to a dreadful start when veteran opener Kraigg Brathwaite, playing his 100th Test, departed in the second over for an eight-ball duck. Fending with hard hands, the milestone man chipped a return catch back towards Josh Hazlewood, who held onto a sharp chance low his left.
Captain Pat Cummins produced a stunning piece of athleticism to remove Keacy Carty with his second delivery of the match, sprinting towards silly mid-on and diving with an outstretched arm to complete a one-handed catch inches from the turf.
MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs West Indies second Test live scoreboard
West Indies opener John Campbell raced towards 40 with an assortment of aggressive strokes, including a pull shot against Hazlewood that sailed over the boundary rope, before throwing his wicket away late in the morning session, charging at all-rounder Beau Webster and miscuing a lofted glance towards mid-on.
Captain Roston Chase and King added 47 for the third wicket before Hazlewood struck early in the afternoon session courtesy of a review, with the Australians successfully overturning an on-field decision for LBW against the rival skipper.
King reached his maiden Test half-century in 77 deliveries, combining with wicketkeeper Shai Hope for a 58-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Cummins broke the stand with an unplayable wobble-seam delivery that seamed in and bowled Hope through the gate for 21.
The dismissal prompted a brief collapse of 3-5 from 21 balls. At the other end, King gloved a wayward delivery from veteran spinner Nathan Lyon down the leg side, with gloveman Alex Carey snaffling the catch and Australia vice-captain Steve Smith deploying another excellent review.
During his following over, Lyon removed all-rounder Justin Greaves for 1, with Carey accepting another smart catch behind the stumps, before tailenders Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph launched into a counterpunch after tea.
The duo thumped 51 runs to chew away at the deficit before Alzarri holed out to long-on for 27 to become Lyon’s third victim.
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