The Boxing Day Test is over after four days following a declaration from Australia who went on to bowl the West Indies out before stumps on Day 4.
The West Indies were able to post their best total from an innings so far in this series but it wasn’t enough to threaten the 459-run lead that Australia held when they declared overnight.
Middle-order batsmen Denesh Ramdin and Jason Holder were the West Indies’ best performers on Day 4, both recording half-centuries, but once they fell the Test was quickly concluded.
Mitch Marsh took 4/61 off his 17.3 overs, including the vital wickets of Ramdin and Holder, but Nathan Lyon was man of the match for his seven wickets across the Test.
Final score
Australia 3/551d & 3/179d
West Indies 271 & 282
A bit of a fightback from West Indies pushed the second Test into the fourth day but Australia should start favourites to wrap up the match on Tuesday. You can follow the live blog of the fourth day of this game from 10:30 am (AEDT).
The prospect of a three-day finish loomed large as I had mentioned in my previous preview but a fighting West Indies managed to circumvent that possibility.
Their lower-order batting pulled them out of the mire they had found themselves in and gave them some hope going into the rest of the series.
They could well have been rolled out for next to nothing in not too many overs when they fell to 6/83. But Darren Bravo found an able partner in Carlos Brathwaite and they batted well to keep the Aussie bowlers at bay.
Brathwaite was helped by two lives, both times getting out to Pattinson no-balls – before he went on to notch up a maiden fifty. The rest of the tail supported Bravo well to help the West Indies post 271.
It was just their second-highest score in Test matches away from home this year, second to their 329 against South Africa early this year.
Having been in the field for a little over 100 overs, Australia refused to enforce the follow-on, and piled up 3/179 by close, off just 32 overs. The West Indies chose to spread their field early and the hosts took advantage of that.
The lead’s soared up to 459 and with no side having ever chased down 460 to win a Test, and given what’s transpired so far in this series, it will be interesting to see whether West Indies can get close to even their first innings score.
There’s every chance Smith might want to declare first thing in the morning. The one reason to delay that would be his own impending century. It might shave a further 30-45 minutes off the remaining 180 overs in the Test match but that shouldn’t be a huge bother.
As far as the West Indian chase is concerned, it will be interesting to see whether the top-order has learnt anything from the exploits of Bravo and Brathwaite. Can they survive another day to push the game further into the final day?
You can follow the live scores and a blog of this fourth day of the Australia versus West Indies second Test from 10:30 am (AEDT) on Tuesday and post your comments in the section below.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Behaves like a real third seamer whenever he gets the chance.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Sorry folks, internet issues in the end. Just to round it off, Nathan Lyon was declared the man of the match for his excellent haul in the Test - also probably because it's tough to choose from the four centurions. Be back for the third Test from January 3, which will be played in Sydney. Have a good day.
Brett McKay
Expert
New career best figures for Marsh. Excellent rewards..
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That is the end of that, a superb catch to finish the Test... ...bouncer from Marsh and Taylor wants to smack it away. Gets the top-edge, goes high and the fine-leg fielder has to rush in and take it diving to his left. It's Pattinson who finishes off the game with that catch and Marsh picks up his fourth wicket. West Indies have been bowled out for 282. Lose by 177 runs.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Shot, clears the front leg and smashed it over the mid-on fielder for a four, did Warrican. Pattinson isn't amused. 9/282 in 88.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Now if we have half an hour of slogging from Warrican like that it might be pretty interesting.
dan in devon
Guest
O dear. At least the Windies showed some fight which is more than I cay say for the rudderless Saffas.
Gordon Smith
Guest
Time for an article or ROAR analysing how many batsman that were "set on good scores" Marsh has got out starting from the Ashes through out NZ tour till now :)
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Shot, Roach has pushed a Pattinson delivery through extra-cover for four... ...but next ball, Pattinson gets Roach! Matter of time. On a length, squares up Roach, who pushes his bat at it and the ball flies to the slips, where hes easily caught. Nine down.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well I guess we will be having that extra half hour.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Three overs of the scheduled play left but only five more minutes, which means they won't be able to bowl them. But after that, the extra half hour could be taken.
Josh
Expert
(I only said this because I knew Holder would get out right away if I did).
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Gone! Holder has holed out! Pitched right up to the batsman, and Holder has gone for that punchy, straight drive, lofted in the air. Except, this time he's hit it straight to the mid-off fielder. Eight down and now they might be allowed to take the extra half hour.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Very well played though by Holder.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Change in the bowling. Mitchell Marsh, the pick of the bowlers today, gets his chance. And off the first ball, a leading edge off the Holder bat gets it to fly over the slips for a four. 7/272 in the 87th
Scott Pryde
Expert
No! I was secretly hoping the Windies were going to pull off the surprise of the century. Guess it won't be.
Josh
Expert
Hard to believe we might honestly be going into a (very very short) fifth day here.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Needed them to get to stumps at 5/280 or thereabouts. Still, new day, fresh bowlers would have made it a very outside chance.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Here's the enormity of what West Indies have achieved in this Test match.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Looks like the pacers have discovered Holder could be susceptible to the bouncer. Might end up hooking and getting caught. Regular peppering with the bouncer. Manages to hook it in front of square for a couple. 7/266 in the 85th