West Indies Bowlers Shine As Australia Falter Again

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-06-27 10:34:41 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-13 06:52:15

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Australia's top order failed them again as the visitors stuttered to 92/4 in their second innings by the end of the second day of the second Test against the West Indies. The hosts, who scored 329 in their first innings, had Australia on the ropes at 62/4 but some resistance from Marnus Labuschagne and captain Steve Smith took the Australians to 228, a first-innings lead of 197. Despite the nerves the West Indies bowlers showed at the end of the first session, Australia's top order failed to fire yet again.

West Indian Pacer Jayden Seales, who took four wickets in the first innings, struck again, trapping opener Matthew Wade lbw for 5, before removing Steve Smith in similar fashion for 8, leaving the Aussies rocking at 62/4. The West Indies bowlers dominated the early part of the day, beating the outside edge of the Australian bats on multiple occasions, but Labuschagne (44) and Smith (29) survived and even started to look comfortable towards the latter end of the afternoon session.

The pair put on a crucial partnership of 56 runs for the fifth wicket before Labuschagne was caught at backward square leg, ending the stand and giving Seales his third wicket of the day. The West Indian bowlers kept the pressure on and it told when Smith flicked a ball from Roston Chase straight into the hands of Nkrumah Bonner at square leg, leaving the Aussies seven down. The West Indies will be desperate to win this Test match, after the hammering they received in the first Test, and with captain Kraigg Brathwaite leading from the front with the bat, the Australians will need to fight hard to save the game.

The series is locked at 1-1 heading into Day 3, with the hosts in the driver's seat to level the series, but Australia will be hoping their lower order can dig them out of a hole and grab an unlikely win.

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