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Australia 598 for 4 dec and 29 for 1 lead West Indies 283 (Brathwaite 64, Chanderpaul 51, Cummins 3-34, Starc 3-51) by 344 runs
Wickets came in a rush after Australia had toiled against determined West Indies’ batting on a surface lacking the venom expected. With Cummins preferring a rest for his bowlers, Australia faced 11 overs before stumps but lost opener Usman Khawaja who was caught behind off quick Kemar Roach.
Amid lengthening shadows from the towering grandstands, perhaps inspired by England’s ballistic batting against Pakistan in the concurrent Test in Rawalpindi, opener David Warner started with consecutive boundaries.
It was a sign of what should be ahead early on day four as Australia seeks quick runs before a likely declaration. Warner, however, will be looking to cash in after a failure in the first innings continued a lean patch in Test cricket.
Cummins led a well-balanced attack with wickets shared around the frontline bowlers. Australia’s quicks successfully reverted to hitting better lengths after a short-ball strategy late on day two was unfruitful.
Cummins claimed two more with the second new ball after tea as West Indies’ defiance came crashing down. Starc did the damage initially when he trapped Jermaine Blackwood lbw with a full delivery, which was upheld on review in an umpire’s call. He then cleaned up Josh Da Silva with a trademark full delivery, as Starc started to menacingly conjure swing.
Cummins had earlier summoned a mighty spell after lunch to prove there was some spice lurking in the much discussed green-tinged surface. He led an Australian attack who worked over a determined West Indies batting order with three wickets in the middle session.
It dashed West Indies’ hopes of batting for the long haul in their daunting task of hauling in Australia’s mammoth first innings of 598 for 4.
Heading into the match, West Indies had set a target of batting at least 100 overs, which they almost achieved but it was nearly not enough after such a listless bowling and fielding effort.
Chanderpaul had one ball earlier notched his half-century with a lucky boundary through slips but Brathwaite continued to play a strong rearguard to blunt Australia’s accurate attack.
Brathwaite, however, could do little to thwart a gem from his opposite number as Cummins enjoyed another memorable performance.
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