James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon and Peter Siddle claimed two wickets each on Sunday as the West Indies staggered to 91/6 at stumps on the second day of the second Test in reply to Australia’s daunting fi
James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon and Peter Siddle claimed two wickets each on Sunday as the West Indies staggered to 91/6 at stumps on the second day of the second Test in reply to Australia’s daunting first-innings total of 551/3 declared.
The West Indies seem destined to follow-on, trailing Australia by 460 runs. Darren Bravo was 13 not out at stumps and Carlos Brathwaite on 3.
Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Rajendra Chandrika provided a decent start, putting on 35 runs for the first wicket before the innings quickly fell apart.
Off-spinner Lyon (2/18) made the breakthrough shortly after tea when Brathwaite was caught by Joe Burns at forward short-leg for 17.
Pattinson (2/36) then removed Chandrika lbw for 25 and Marlon Samuels, also lbw, for a duck to make it 50/3.
Bravo and Jermaine Blackwood briefly steadied the ship before Lyon ended their partnership by removing Blackwood (28) caught and bowled.
Siddle (2/19) had Denesh Ramdin (0) caught by Burns with an athletic, diving effort at square leg, and knocked back the off stump of Jason Holder (0) with the next ball, as the West Indies lost three wickets for one run.
“The team’s in a really good place at the moment,” Australia batsman Adam Voges said. “The batsmen are doing a good job, and I thought the bowlers were really, really good.
“We’re playing good cricket, we’re confident and as a group that’s still new and gelling together.”Blackwood looked to be out while on 18 when Burns took a diving catch off Siddle, but after a long deliberation by the on-field and TV umpire, it was decided the ball did not carry.
Australia began the day at 345/3, and overnight batsmen Steve Smith (134) and Voges (106) were rarely troubled as they added another 206 runs before declaring midway through the afternoon session.
Smith brought up his sixth test century of the year shortly after lunch to an ovation from the 40,000-strong Melbourne Cricket Ground crowd as he and Voges shared an unbeaten 221 partnership.
Voges completed his century shortly after Smith with a drive to the boundary, passing 1,000 runs in a calendar year, finishing with 1,028.
“I’m just out there playing Test cricket for Australia and trying to be as ruthless as I can,” Voges said. “If I get an opportunity to get in and score runs I’m trying to go as big as possible,” he said.
