The hosts declared their first innings at a mammoth total of 511/7 thanks to big centuries from Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. The duo formed a scintillating partnership of 297 runs for the fourth wicket to ensure their batting domination. Labuschagne smashed 163, and Head top-scored with 175.
In response to Australia’s massive total, West Indies limped to stumps at 102/4 with their hopes of a series-levelling victory looking doubtful. Aussie quick Michael Neser, who had a memorable debut 12 months ago in the Adelaide Ashes Test, was ruthless with his accuracy outside the off stump and was rewarded with the wickets of captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Shamarh Brooks.
Neser’s wicket of Brathwaite gained maximum attention as the right-armer delivered an absolute jaffa to get rid of the Windies skipper. It all happened on the fourth ball of the 13th over when Neser hit the deck on a good length, and the ball shaped away slightly to go past the outside edge, and Alex Carey took a simple catch.
Here is the video:
“Our batters did a good job to put such a massive total, set it up in the first two days, and today we took advantage of the third session. It was a great feeling (to take two wickets), I just bowled in the right areas and let the wicket do the work for me. To get the edge was a lot of relief (after the dropped catch of Brooks). He (Lyon) has been performing well in recent years, a great athlete, and he has many more years left in him,” said Neser after the end of the day’s play.
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