Australia is on the verge of winning the 2nd Test match against the West Indies and is aiming for a clean sweep in the series. In their 2nd and final innings, West Indies need 376 runs to win while Australia need only 8 wickets for victory with 2 full days play left in Sabina Park, Jamaica.
After Australia were bowled out for 399 in their 1st innings, the West Indies made a slumpy start to their innings. Both their openers were dismissed cheaply. Included Kraigg Brathwaite(4)and debutant Rajindra Chandrika was dismissed by Starc for a duck of a Brad Haddin catch. The middle order consisting of Dareen Bravo, Shai Hope, Shane Dowrich and Denesh Ramdin failed to make any big score and West Indies kept losing wickets. The only resistance were put up by Jermaine Blackwood(51) and captain Jason Holder who remained not out on 82, who gave some stability to the innings as West Indies were bundles out for 220.
The pick of the bowlers was Josh Hazlewood who claimed his 2nd 5 wicket haul. Nathan Lyon too claimed 3 wickets and became the most successful Aussie off-spinner in history. In their 2nd innings, the visitors made a good start with Shaun Marsh(69) and David Warner(62) complied an opening stand of 117 runs, while Steve Smith went on to achieve yet another half century and remained unbeaten on 54. Australia declared their innings on 212 with the loss of 2 wickets, setting a daunting target of 392 for the home team.
As West Indies came out to bat, Mitchell Starc struck twice in the 1st over itself, removing both the openers for a duck each. While Braithwaite was bowled out of a full delivery outside off-stump which went on to hit the stumps, Chandrika “bagged a pair” on his debut. Starc bowled him a delivery wide of the off-stump which he edged and was caught safely by Marsh.
At the end of Day 3, the Caribbean side had Darren Bravo(8*) and Shane Dowrich(1*) batting on the crease. The West Indies require a good load of support from their middle order if they want to avoid yet another defeat. A lot of responsibility would be upon Blackwood and skipper Holder now as West Indies need nothing short of a miracle to stay alive in this Test especially as they are against a formidable Aussie bowling attack.