BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Below a cloudless Caribbean sky, West Indies resumed on 57 for 4 with Brandon King and skipper Roston Chase eyeing an extension of their fragile foothold.
Hazlewood’s first-hour burst, nonetheless, shattered that hope. King, deceived by late inswing, shouldered arms and misplaced his off stump at 72 for five—an early blow that disadvantaged the hosts of momentum.
Chase and Hope sew restoration—then controversy strikes
Enter Shai Hope, whose first two scoring strokes—an imperious cover-drive and a textbook straight punch off Mitchell Starc—ignited the stands and steadied nerves. Chase, in the meantime, harvested singles, turning strike over with surgeon’s precision. Their 67-run union lifted West Indies to 139 for five and appeared set to tilt the steadiness.
That promise dissolved in a blaze of expertise and perplexity. Cummins jagged one into Chase’s entrance pad; on-field umpire Joel Wilson’s finger went up. Chase reviewed. Replays revealed a deviation off bat earlier than pad—“clear change of course,” murmured commentators—but the third umpire upheld the choice. Chase’s stoic 44 ended amid audible dismay from the gang.
Hope denied by spectacular—however questioned—seize
The setback worsened when part-time seamer Beau Webster swung one again by way of Hope’s gate. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey flung himself left, cupping the ball inches above the grass. A chronic overview ensued. Frames advised leather-based brushing turf whereas lodged in Carey’s gloves, but, as soon as extra, the decision favored Australia. Hope walked for a fluent 48, head shaking in disbelief.
Joseph’s late flourish secures a sliver of benefit
Tail-ender Alzarri Joseph counter-punched with an unbeaten 23 off 20, coaxing 28 priceless runs from the final two wickets to push the ultimate complete to 190—good for a slender 10-run first-innings cushion. Starc completed with 3-65; Webster, Cummins, and Hazlewood claimed two apiece.
Joseph and Seales skewer Australia’s high order
With shadows lengthening, West Indies quicks prolonged the drama. Alzarri Joseph trapped Usman Khawaja stone-dead; moments later, Sam Konstas, twice reprieved earlier, dragged a Shamar Joseph supply onto his stumps. Australia tottered at 34 for two.
The wobble grew to become a quake when Jayden Seales bowled Josh Inglis by way of a gate wider than Barbados’ Parliament arches, and Justin Greaves lured Cameron Inexperienced right into a thick edge safely pouched by Chase at slip. At 65 for 4, the vacationers had been flirting with parity’s abyss.
Webster and Head maintain the road
Composure returned through Webster (19 not out) and Travis Head (13 not out). The pair absorbed hostile spells, leaving Australia 92 for 4 at stumps—simply 82 forward total and setting the stage for a charming third morning.
With either side nursing grievances over shut calls and savoring flashes of dominance, Day Three guarantees a decisive swing. Ought to West Indies pry out Webster or Head early, the house crowd could but roar their aspect towards a match-defining benefit. Conversely, an Australian counterattack may rework Thursday’s pressure right into a Friday surge. On a wicket providing simply sufficient variable bounce and seam, supremacy stays tantalizingly undecided.
