West Indies are 4-132 with a lead of 154 runs in the second session on day three of the pink ball Test at The Gabba, with Kavem Hodge (22) and Justin Greaves (5) at the crease.
Alick Athanaze made 35 before Steve Smith made up for his earlier drop with a catch at first slip off Nathan Lyon.
“Catch number 179 for Smith and he makes amends for his earlier blemish,” Mark Howard said.
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MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs. West Indies, Gabba Test scorecard
AUS v WI: Test 2, Day 2 highlights | 08:25
Steve Smith dropped a second catch for the innings to give Alick Athanaze a life in the second last over before the big break.
“That’s Khawaja’s catch,” Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
“Smith is just too tight and too close to Khawaja.”
Kirk McKenzie batted superbly for 41 off 50 balls, before he swept Nathan Lyon in his first over and was trapped lbw, after an unsuccessful review form the West Indies star.
“Nathan Lyon comes on and gets the breakthrough straight away,” Mark Howard said on Fox Cricket.
“A good innings comes to an end and Lyon strikes,” Allan Border said.
Cameron Green picked up the wicket of Kraigg Brathwaite who gave away his wicket cheaply with a drive to cover.
The wicket came soon after an impromptu West Indies drinks break which led to the umpires stepping in and warning them about the frequent stoppages.
Things are tightly poised on day three of the second Test between Australia and the West Indies after carnage unfolded on Friday.
The West Indies began the day 35 runs in the lead but one down after opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s poor series with the bat ended with the last ball of day two, when he was dismissed for just four runs.
Pat Cummins’ impressive 64 not out and Alex Carey’s quick fire 65 were the highlights of Day 2 for the Aussies.
Those knocks were needed after the Windies, led by Alzari Joseph’s four wickets, ripped through the Aussie top order, with questions being raised whether selecting Steve Smith to open was the right call.
Cummins came in at 7/161 and guided Australia to a total of 9/289 before declaring late in order have a 30-minute crack at the West Indies batsmen.
Carey said after the day’s play that it was “the best I’ve ever seen” Cummins bat.
“He’s an amazing cricketer, isn’t he?” Carey said.
Earlier, Steve Smith had another misfire in his new role as Test opener after he was trapped in front by Kemar Roach.
Roach said he had pinpointed a weakness for Smith and went after it.
Skull opens up on ‘sluggish’ Smith | 01:40
“Obviously you see how he bats, he gets far across and with the new ball, you give yourself a better chance. So I backed myself to get him out today and it happened so lucky for me,” he said.
Smith is averaging just 34.33 this Test summer with only one more innings to go.
“It’s in his mind,” Kerry O’Keeffe told Fox Sports News’ Test Cricket Daily.
“We know his technique will be scrutinised but I think it’s more mental than technical for Steve Smith at the moment.”
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