The second day of the second Test between Australia and West Indies looked evenly balanced after Josh Hazlewood dismissed Tagenarine Chanderpaul in the day's final session on January 26, Friday. West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite managed to stay not out at 3 runs from 20 balls, despite being dropped by Steven Smith at second slip off Mitchell Starc's bowling. However, his opening partner Chanderpaul, scoring 4 off 26, was taken out by Hazlewood just before day's end, following a successful DRS review initiated by Pat Cummins.
Looking ahead, Australia aims to take quick wickets to limit West Indies' chances of setting a substantial target. Conversely, the West Indies team will focus on building partnerships to strengthen their position. Earlier, the West Indies had resumed the day at 266/8. Kevin Sinclair and Kemar Roach formed a determined ninth-wicket stand, adding 31 runs.
A miscommunication led to Roach's run out, but debutant Sinclair impressed with a resilient half-century, scoring 50 off 98 balls. Nathan Lyon dismissed Sinclair as the last wicket, ending the West Indies innings with a competitive score of 311 in 108 overs.
West Indies' bowlers, led by Alzarri Joseph and Kemar Roach, put Australia under pressure, quickly reducing them to 54 for 5. Usman Khawaja anchored the innings, while Alex Carey aggressively scored a 38-ball fifty. Together, they put on a crucial 96-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Carey's innings ended at 65 off 49 balls, bowled by Shamar Joseph, breaking the partnership shortly before Mitchell Starc's dismissal by Alzarri at the dinner break.
Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja formed a crucial partnership, putting together an 81-run stand for the 8th wicket, with both players notching up half-centuries. Khawaja scored 75 off 131 balls before becoming Kevin Sinclair's first victim in Test cricket. However, Cummins, unbeaten on 64 off 73 balls, and Nathan Lyon, with a quick 19 off 19, kept up the momentum, adding 47 runs for the 9th wicket.
Following Lyon's wicket, Australia made a strategic declaration at 289 for 9 in 53 overs, conceding a slender 22-run lead to West Indies. Alzarri Joseph was the standout bowler for West Indies with four wickets, while Kemar Roach claimed three. At the end of day 2, Australia was in a strong position, but West Indies still have an opportunity to challenge the hosts at the Gabba. If successful, they could become only the second team, after India, to conquer this stronghold in the past 37 years.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
'I would say to Rahul Dravid...please go...': Kevin Pietersen makes massive appeal to Team India coach with regards to Shubman Gill
IND vs ENG: KL Rahul shines with another classy knock, misses century by just 14 runs
BPL franchise Fortune Barishal's owner makes huge statement on reports claiming Shoaib Malik's contract termination owing to 'fixing'
