Australia needs 156 more runs to win the Gabba pink-ball Test. Steve Smith is still batting, while West Indies has lost their strike bowler Shamar Joseph due to a crushed right big toe.

At the end of the third day of the second Test, the hosts had a score of 60 for two, with Smith remaining unbeaten at 33 and demonstrating confidence in his role as an opener. Although Australia is currently leading, West Indies may still have a chance at making the chase for 216 runs exciting. There is a possibility of rain in Brisbane on Sunday and Monday. Unfortunately, Marnus Labuschagne was unsuccessful for the second time in this Test, falling to a diving catch in the slips by Kevin Sinclair.

The West Indies team scored a total of 193 runs in their second innings. During the match, Mitchell Starc hit Joseph’s foot causing an injury that prevented him from continuing to play. As a result, Joseph had to leave the field and was unable to bowl during the final session. The team’s medical staff provided ice and monitored his injury.

After the second break, the tourists lost three wickets for one run. Josh Hazlewood, with a total of 14 wickets in the series, took three for 23, while Nathan Lyon contributed with three for 42.

During the second session, Travis Head’s impressive play at short-leg gave Australia an advantage. He successfully ran out Kavem Hodge, who was in good form, when the opposing team was at 148 for four and had control of the game. When Hodge played a shot from Nathan Lyon, Head quickly caught the ball and flicked it onto the stumps while Hodge was outside of his crease. This resulted in Hodge being out as his bat was still in the air after the ball bounced up before reaching the crease. In the first innings, Hodge had scored 71 runs and was performing well in the second innings as well.

Smith dropped Alick Athanaze before the tea break, but Lyon’s second chance was happily accepted. Cameron Green then made his own impressive play at gully, catching Joshua Da Silva’s flying edge with one hand on his second try.

During the initial session, the captain of West Indies, Kraigg Brathwaite, carelessly hit a cover off Green and Kirk McKenzie, who was playing the ball beautifully, was declared lbw on 41 while attempting to sweep Lyon. McKenzie displayed a variety of impressive drives through the ground and cover. Despite being set for a high score, the 23-year-old fell victim to a pattern seen in many of his innings this series, getting out when he had the upper hand against the bowlers.

The guests are aiming for their initial victory in a Test match in Australia since Brian Lara and Curtly Ambrose led a 10-wicket triumph in Perth in 1997.

Source: theguardian.com