AUS vs WI 1st test Day 2 Highlights: Australia clearly dominated the second successive day of the first test between Australia and West Indies at the Perth Stadium with their star batters Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne both recorded double-centuries on day two.
Riding on shoulders of both the right-handed batters, Australia declared their first innings at 598 for 4, while West Indies saved it well during the last hour of the second day and posted 74 without losing any wicket.
The skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (18*) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (47*) walked back with not out tag and will start the proceedings for West Indies on day three.
AUS VS WI 1st test Day 2 Highlights
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, who played almost 38 overs together on day one, came out fresh on second day morning and were in no mood to provide any chance to the visitors.
They kept of scoring runs on loose balls and irritating the West Indies side with their flawless batting.
Soon, the 28-year-old recorded his second double-hundred right before the lunch. He, however, missed the chance to overtake his own highest score record of 215.
Just before lunch, it was then time for Steve Smith to score a hundred. With his ton he matched the record of scoring 29 centuries in test cricket with Sir Don Bradman.
The former skipper claimed another record of scoring 4000 runs in test cricket, with only Sir Bradman (98.22) and Sir Garfield Sobers with an average of 66.8 ahead of Smith (64.53).
Smith’s dominance against West Indies
It was his third century against West Indies, while he scored 697 in 6 test at a mind-boggling average of 232.33 against the West Indies.
With 596 on board after 152 overs, and Smith was on 199 and Head was 98, Australian team were in a mood to declare right after both hit their tons.
The skipper of West Indies Kraigg Brathwaite took the charge of bowling the 153rd over, with Head was facing the first ball, he took a single on the first deliver, Smith then completed his double-hundred with a single on third ball, and then it was a time for Head to complete his ton, but Brathwaite bowled him up on 99, and Australia then declared their first innings at 598 for 4.
Only Warner in the first innings of Australia was unable to hit half-century, while Usman Khawaja hit 65, Smith and Labuschagne hit double-centuries and Head struck 99.
West Indies performance in the test so far
Kraigg Brathwaite was the pick of the bowler for the Caribbean side, as he bagged 2 wickets in his 12.4 overs. Jayden Seales and Kyle Mayers took 1-1 wicket each.
Australia’s intention of picking up wickets in the final 25 overs of the day were dashed by West Indies openers as they perfectly played the defensive game by scoring 74 for 0 at the time of Stumps. The road to break follow-on is still too far, though!
