Boxing Day Test at MCG, Melbourne, December 26-30, 2015
Australia 551/3 (UT Khawaja 144, SPD Smith 134*, JA Burns 128, AC Voges 106*) and 179/3 (SPD Smith 70*, UT Khawaja 56), West Indies 271 All Out (DM Bravo 81, CH Braithwaite 59, JL Pattinson 4/72, NM Lyon 4/66)
MELBOURNE: West Indies showed lot of guts and patience on the third day forcing Australia toil hard to remove the last 4 wickets. D Bravo played with determination and led the fight with tail enders. Their brave batting extended the match to the fourth day.
When West Indies finished their first innings at 271 Australia could enforce follow on. But Smith decided to rest his bowlers and extended the lead to 459-run by the end of day three. Even if Australia declares early next morning it will be a huge task for the West Indies to survive and save the test. Australia is well on course of yet another test and series win.
West Indies started day three at 91/6 with the prospect of a humiliation and embarrassment. But Bravo especially and debutant Braithwaite showed enough energy and patience. Their 7th wicket partnership caused few worries. Till the last ball before lunch Australians could get two wickets but both were ruled out as no balls. Braithwaite was given two reprieves. But in between he played some good strokes before getting out caught and bowled to Lyon on the stroke of lunch for well-played 59-run.
He showed the way to the top order how to take the Australian bowling on a wearing wicket. His departure caused some urgency in Bravo who was grinding and grafting till then. All tail enders -- Roach, Taylor and Jomel Warrican -- gave him reasonable support in adding 98 valuable runs in the last three wickets. Bravo was looking good for another century. But in his efforts for farming the strokes he got out as the last batsman for 81.
All Australian bowlers bowled well. But Pattinson was the peak of them taking 4/72. It was wonderful exhibition of pace and swing including reverse. Lyon spun intelligently and brought vital breakthroughs whenever required. He took 4/66.
West Indians kept Australian bowlers waiting much longer than expected on the job forcing Smith to bat again. This time Australian top order found it relatively difficult to blast West Indian bowling. Burns and Warner were consumed early. But quality batsman Khawaja and Smith again batted superbly to take Australia’s lead to massive 459-run at stumps.
Khawaja got out in his attempt of reverse sweeping Holder for 56. But Smith was silky smooth on 70 when stumps were drawn. Australia with 459 runs ahead has already enough unless Smith wants to bat for another half an hour. It will be huge challenge for West Indians to take the match to the fifth day. Yet over all West Indies had something to take pride on its performance on day three.
Win at MCG will secure the series for Australia. The New Year’s test at Sydney will turn into a hard grind for the visitors for avoiding whitewash.
BDST: 1617 HRS, DEC 28, 2015
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