KINGSTON, June 14 (AFP): West Indies lost both openers to Mitchell Starc and were 16 for two at stumps after being set a daunting target of 392 by Australia on the third day of the second and final Test at Sabina Park.
With a first innings lead of 179, the visitors� openers David Warner (62) and Shaun Marsh (69) compiled an opening stand of 117 on the way to individual half-centuries and Steve Smith followed his first innings 199 with an unbeaten 54 yesterday.
Skipper Michael Clarke then determined that, at 212 for two in the final session, the tourists had enough runs on the board and challenged his bowlers to make early inroads in eight testing overs before the close of play.
Starc was on target immediately, bowling Kraigg Brathwaite off the inside-edge and drawing a loose drive from fellow-opener Rajendra Chandrika to be caught at gully.
Both failed to score, Chandrika enduring the indignity of a �pair� on debut, just the second West Indian in the history of Test cricket to have such a chastening experience.
Darren Bravo, who had an lbw verdict off spinner Nathan Lyon overturned on review, will resume on the fourth morning with the inexperienced Shane Dowrich and the odds heavily in Australia�s favour to complete victory and a 2-0 series sweep with a day to spare.
Jason Holder put smiles on glum West Indian faces at the start of the day, blazing an unbeaten 82 to ensure that the home side, beaten by nine wickets inside three days in the first Test, avoided the follow-on.
With the home side in deep trouble at 143 for eight overnight, Holder stole the spotlight with a brilliant, counter-attacking innings.
SCORECARD
Australia 1st Innings: 399
West Indies 1st Innings (overnight 143 for 8): K Brathwaite b Lyon 4, R Chandrika c Haddin b Starc 0, D Bravo lbw b Lyon 14, S Dowrich c Haddin b Hazlewood 13, S Hope c Haddin b Lyon 26, J Blackwood c Warner b Hazlewood 51, D Ramdin lbw b Hazlewood 8, J Holder not out 82, V Permaul c Haddin b Johnson 0, K Roach c Haddin b Hazlewood 7, J Taylor lbw b Hazlewood 0, Extras: (B-6, LB-2, W-1, NB-1, pen 5) 15. Total: (all out in 59.5 overs) 220. Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-9, 3-25, 4-44, 5-77, 6-119, 7-142, 8-143, 9-220, 10-220. Bowling: Starc 14-2-50-1, Hazlewood 15.5-8-38-5, Lyon 14-4-55-3, Johnson 14-2-54-1, Watson 2-0-10-0.
Australia 2nd Innings: S Marsh c Holder b Permaul 69, D Warner c Ramdin b Roach 62, S Smith not out 54, M Clarke not out 14. Extras: (B-9, LB-4) 13. Total: (decl for 2 wkts in 65 overs) 212. Fall of wickets: 1-117, 2-163 Bowling: Taylor 10-2-24-0, Roach 9-2-26-1, Permaul 21-3-83-1, Holder 10-2-24-0, Brathwaite 11-3-23-0, Blackwood 4-1-19-0.
West Indies 2nd innings: K Brathwaite b Starc 0, R Chandrika c Marsh b Starc 0, D Bravo not out 8, S Dowrich not out 1. Extras: (B-4, LB-2, W-1) 7. Total: (for 2 wickets in 8 overs) 16. Bowling: Starc 3-2-1-2, Hazlewood 1-1-0-0, Lyon 3-2-6-0, Johnson 1-0-3-0.