BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 25, CMC – Defiant half-centuries from Joshua Da Silva and Kavem Hodge enabled West Indies to struggle again after a dreadful begin in opposition to hosts and world champions Australia within the day-night second Take a look at on Thursday.
Da Silva led the best way with 79, and Hodge, enjoying in solely his second Take a look at, supported with 71 and shared a century sixth wicket stand to assist the Caribbean aspect attain a decent 266 for eight of their first innings on the shut on the primary day of the match on the Gabba.
The pair shared 149 spanning nearly two periods to rescue West Indies from one other embarrassing batting collapse after they received the toss, surprisingly determined to bat, and Australia left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc triggered an implosion. They sunk to 64 for 5 earlier than the dinner break.
“It’s at all times good to come back up in opposition to Australia as a result of they’re most likely one of the best staff on this planet on paper, so to face an opposition like that and to attain some runs was good,” Da Silva mentioned after play. “The pitch was fairly respectable to bat on.
“Coming in at 64 for 5, I simply needed to attempt to consolidate issues with ‘Hodgy,’ it was good, a bit difficult at occasions, however there have been intervals the place it was somewhat simpler and fewer difficult.”
West Indies, trailing 1-0 within the two-Take a look at sequence after they misplaced the primary Take a look at by ten wickets inside three days this previous Friday in Adelaide, suffered a big setback inside the primary half-hour of play.
Their captain and batting anchor, Kraigg Brathwaite, was caught behind off pacer Josh Hazlewood for 4, enjoying defensively ahead, after twice needing the TV umpire to rescue him in early opening exchanges.
Left-handers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Kirk McKenzie defied the Aussie assault. They carried the Caribbean aspect to 31 for one on the drinks break, however issues unraveled earlier than the interval once they had been two of 4 wickets – three to Starc – that fell for 15 within the span of 63 balls.
McKenzie was caught at first slip for 21, top-edging a reduce at a brief, huge supply from Australia tempo bowling captain Pat Cummins earlier than Starc obtained Chanderpaul caught at second slip for a similar rating and Alick Athanaze caught behind for eight to develop into the fifth Australian bowler to take 350 Take a look at wickets.
Justin Greaves, enjoying in solely his second Take a look at, hoped to hold West Indies via to dinner, however he fell to a different catch to first slip off Starc on the stroke of the interval to go away the guests in tatters.
After dinner, Da Silva and Hodge displayed unbelievable resilience in the course of the problematic twilight interval to defy the Australian bowling assault and lead the resistance for the West Indies.
Da Silva hit seven fours from 157 balls. She endured a looking examination of his braveness and method when the Australia pacers launched into bowling him a barrage of short-pitched deliveries early in his innings.
Hodge struck eight fours from 194 balls and overcame two shut calls when he edged Starc via a vacant second slip on three, and the beanpole Cameron Inexperienced did not get near an opportunity at gully off the identical bowler when he was 5.
The pair ensured Australia endured a wicket-less session for the primary time within the sequence and had been within reach of the half-century mark once they carried West Indies to 145 for 5 at tea.
Hodge obtained to the mark first from 118 balls when he edged Inexperienced via gully for a single within the sixth over after the break, and Da Silva adopted up within the subsequent over when he turned his 109th ball from off-spinner Nathan Lyon previous quick leg for a single that additionally introduced the century stand to huge applause.
The West Indies pair continued to battle away with the pink ball shedding its sheen and the pitch getting simpler for batting, and so they carried the Caribbean aspect to 189 for 5 at drinks after which previous 200 for the primary time within the sequence.
Their alliance was damaged two overs earlier than the second new ball when Da Silva was lbw to Lyon, enjoying backwards and forwards and went for an unsuccessful overview. The second new ball carried away Hodge in its fifth over when he was caught at second slip after Starc squared him up and located his outdoors edge to finish the day with 4 for 68 from 20 overs.
Alzarri Joseph supplied late leisure, cracking seven fours in 32, and he shared 41 for the eighth wicket with newcomer Kevin Sinclair, not out on 16, earlier than being caught at second slip off the third-last ball of the time without work Hazlewood, who had two for 32 from 16.4 overs at stumps.
West Indies introduced off-spin bowling all-rounder Sinclair in to switch left-arm spinner and fellow Guyanese Gudakesh Motie of their solely change, whereas Australia performed an unchanged 11.
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