Their famed middle-order stood strong for them once again as Australia escaped from a precarious position to take a 254-run lead in the first innings, leaving the second Test of the Frank Worrell Trophy series against the West Indies poised on a knife's edge as they are ahead by 254 runs with three wickets in hand.
Cameron Green scored 52 (123 balls, 4x5) while former captain Steve Smith top-scored with 71 (119 balls, 4x7, 6x1) and they added 93 runs for the fourth wicket partnership as Australia recover from a precarious 28/3 and ended Day 3 at 221/7 in 64.3 overs, giving them a defendable lead at St. George's Granada.
It was a tricky surface - little up and down, little bit of seam movement. Decided to bat on middle (stump), stay still and negate lbw as much as possible, and try to use the full face (of the bat) as much as possible.
"Tried to cash in on anything loose (to put the pressure back on the bowler). My first ball hit me straight on the finger. It was not ideal, but it feels alright. It is that kind of surface. Some can shoot up, you might have to take a few on the hands, but it is all good."
Wicketkeeer batter Alex Carey, who scored a half-century in the first innings, was holding fort on 29 with skipper Pat Cummins batting on 4 and with two days of play possible, the duo will be hoping to add as many runs as possible to further swell their lead as the visitors try to seal the three-match Test series by winning the second match in succession.
We are in a nice spot. Don't think the wicket is going to get any better, will probably do a few more tricks. The new ball is going to be pretty crucial for us. Hopefully, we can get up to somewhere around 300, and then we'll see how it goes.
On a rain-reduced day when the batters held sway for the first time in this series so far dominated by the ball, Australia savoured an extended period of dominance before West Indies struck back through Justin Greaves' double strike in the final session of play.
Smith and Green came together after nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was sent back for eight by Alzarri Joseph in the ninth over of the day to leave the WTC runners-up, who scored 286 in their first innings, tottering at 28/3. But Green and Smith took them past the 110-run mark and gave the innings some stability.
While Smith was calm and composed and showed the class of a man who has more than 10,000 runs in his kitty, it was the composure of Green during his 123-ball knock that will please the Australian team management the most.
Green was castled by Shamar Joseph for 52, inside-edging onto his stumps a delivery that was too close to cut. Smith then added 53 runs for the fifth wicket with Travis Head before Shamar Joseph struck again, trapping him LBW. Smith opted for DRS, and the TV umpire ruled that the ball struck the pad first and would have gone on to hit the off-stump. Umpire's call stayed and Smith returned to the pavilion at 179/5 and Australia just 200 runs ahead.
Beau Webster (2) fell in the next over, and when Greaves struck again to send back Travis Head for 39 (60 balls, 4x4), Australia were down to 212/7 -- their lead substantial but not enough on which they sleep soundly.
For the West Indies, Jayden Seales (2-29), Shamar Joseph (2-54), and Justin Greaves (2-22) all claimed a double each, while Alzarri Joseph, who bagged 4-61 in the first innings of this Test, claimed 1-42.
Brief Scores: Australia 286 & 212/7 in 64.3 overs (Steve Smith 71, Cameron Green 52, Travis Head 39; Jayden Seales 2-29, Shamar Joseph 2-54, Justin Greaves 2-22) lead West Indies 253 by 254 runs.
