Seales and King bring West Indies right back into the contest as Australia end Day 2 at 12/2 after eking a 33-run lead.
Seales and King have their say in a topsy-turvy day 2 that sees Australia 45 runs ahead, but also 2 down for 12 in the second innings.
intense pressure as West Indies reduced their deficit to 33 and Jayden Seales dismissed both openers. Although the bowlers from Australia shared the victory, West Indies was elevated by Brandon King’s first Test fifty and lower-order resistance before Australia’s top order was once more put through its paces.
Australia had an uneasy thirty-five minutes left until the completion of the first innings, which the West Indies had prolonged. Sam Konstas was unable to finish the first over. He dragged the ball into his stumps while playing away from his body in an attempt to force through the off side from the back foot, leaving plenty for him to think about before the final Test match in Jamaica.
With the new ball, it was difficult. As Cameron Green attempted to dodge the first ball he encountered, it reared at him and struck the bat’s shoulder, but it missed the slips. Then Shamar Joseph gave Usman Khawaja one that was not straight but scuttled. However, Khawaja was plumb lbw in Seales’ subsequent over after being caught on the crease from around the wicket, a familiar line of attack that has plagued him. In a desperate move, he also burned a review.
Australia was sitting far from comfortably, but Green and nightwatcher Nathan Lyon, who was hit on the arm in the final stages of the day, managed to make it to the stumps.
After King and Shai Hope developed a promising partnership, the West Indies were able to establish a foothold twice in their innings, first at 111 for 3 and again at 169 for 4. Pat Cummins, who had earlier removed Keacy Carty with a spectacular caught-and-bowled, came through at a crucial moment, and further quick wickets left the home team far behind.
However, before the final-wicket duo of Seales and Anderson Phillip survived ten overs, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph added 51, a stand replete with some strong hitting. With a quick, low effort, Travis Head recorded the third return catch of the day to close off the innings. In contrast to Barbados, batting did seem more comfortable as the ball grew softer, albeit there were still indications of unevenness and assistance for the quicks.
During an aggressive stand of 58 between King and Hope in the afternoon session, West Indies first claimed the honours. King reached a half-century of 77 balls after slashing Mitchell Starc after taking a short delivery from Hazlewood and pulling him over midwicket for six. Additionally, he danced down the pitch and hit Lyon for two sixes, continuing his captivating match.
Australia made a menacing stand, but Cummins delivered the blow when it was needed. With Hope’s feet trapped in the crease, the ball nipped one back between bat and pad after he had made one straighten to beat the outside edge. It was a fantastic set-up against Hope.
King gloved a delivery from Lyon down the leg side with extra bounce in the next over, ending his outstanding innings. Steven Smith, who was then in charge of Cummins off the pitch, called for the DRS when Green, who had been initially pronounced not out on the pitch, became sure it had been touched at midwicket.
Australia looked poised for a big lead when Justin Greaves got an inside edge into his pad that bounced up to Alex Carey, but the stand between the Josephs cut it short. When Phillip was declared lbw sweeping at Lyon on 247, they believed the innings was done, but it had gone too far and there was still a leg missing.