Australia continued to maintain complete stranglehold over West Indies on day two of the second Test in Melbourne on Saturday, thanks to contrasting centuries from captain Steve Smith and Adam Voges.
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Tasked with batting for the final two days to save the second Test, the West Indies were dismissed for 282 on Tuesday, with Dinesh Ramdin (59) and Holder (68) the only batsmen to provide any real resistance. Skipper Smith was unbeaten on 70 with all-rounder Marsh on 18.
The West Indies top order held firm after the loss of opening batsman Kraigg Brathwaite to push the tourists to 64 for one at lunch on day four of the second Test against Australia this morning, still 396 runs adrift of their victory target.
James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon and Peter Siddle each snared two wickets apiece to leave the tourists – who lost the first Test by an innings and 212 runs – a massive 460 runs behind with just four first-innings wickets still standing.
Australia are now 2-0 up in the series and assured of winning the Frank Worrell Trophy with just one Test remaining, which starts on 2 January at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Usman Khawaja is predicting the Boxing Day Test may become a grind for Australia, who will resume at 3-345 when day two starts in Melbourne.
“Ultimately, the game is still very, very far out of our hands and it will take a monumental effort to bring ourselves back into the game…”
“I’m still disappointed we didn’t put up a better fight but still credit to the way the guys played, especially Darren Bravo in the first innings and Denesh Ramdin in the second innings”.
For a time, Ramdin and Holder held the Australians at bay with a robust partnership that lasted 21 overs.
Lyon was adjudged “man of the match” after scalping eight wickets in the entire match.
Pattinson needed only three more deliveries before grabbing his second wicket when Marlon Samuels was trapped lbw for a duck.
But Ramdin went for 59, caught behind off the bowling off the bowling of Mitchell Marsh and was soon followed by Karlos Braithwaite (2).
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Australia is tipped to bat for another hour today and stretch their lead beyond 500 runs, giving themselves five sessions to knock over the Windies.
