Rain clouds hovered, and West Indian paceman Alzarri Joseph struck with the morning’s first significant supply, luring evening‑watchman Nathan Lyon into an edge that John Campbell pocketed at slip.
Australia, teetering at 28 for 3, appeared weak.
Enter Steven Smith and Cameron Inexperienced. Wristwatch exact and stubbornly affected person, the pair stitched a 93‑run stand that reversed the momentum. Smith kindled his innings with again‑to‑again cowl‑drives off Shamar Joseph, every racing throughout the damp outfield, whereas Inexperienced absorbed 123 balls of stress for his runs.
After a rain delay pushed the restart previous lunch, Inexperienced reached his seventh Check fifty by punching Shamar Joseph down the bottom—textbook timing, no flourish required. The bowler responded instantly, slanting a large supply that Inexperienced dragged onto his stumps for 52. Even in dismissal, the all‑rounder had pressured the hosts onto the again foot.
Smith, in the meantime, flowed from cautious into commanding. A wristy flick to high-quality leg carried him to his forty third Check half‑century, and Australia’s lead climbed past 200 as tea approached.
Greaves ignites a twilight Fightback
The put up‑interval ball belonged to Justin Greaves. Along with his very first supply he trapped Smith leg‑earlier than for a refined 71 off 119, and two overs later enticed Beau Webster right into a free drive, Roston Chase finishing the dismissal at slip. When Shamar Joseph returned and skidded a ball below Travis Head’s bat to uproot off stump, West Indian hopes flickered anew—Australia all of a sudden 212 for 7.
Carey and Cummins regular the ship
Gentle pale, however wicketkeeper Alex Carey (26 not out) and captain Pat Cummins (4 not out) held agency, nudging the whole to 221 for 7—a 254‑run cushion with two days to play.
Bowling honours had been shared: Greaves 2‑22, Jayden Seales 2‑29, and Shamar Joseph 2‑54 left the door ajar for a remaining‑innings twist, but the vacationers possess scoreboard heft and, critically, the primary crack at Sunday’s contemporary floor.
