West Indies thereabouts but not there as Lyon claws back: T2 D3

West Indies 9/252 (104 ov, Chanderpaul 93, Deonarine 55, Lyon 5/68) trail Australia 311 by 59 runs with 1 first inns wicket in hand: T2/3 D3/5 at Port of Spain.

Another short day, truncated by a power cut which disabled the review technology for 20 minutes before play began, and a lengthier rain delay with West Indies handily placed at 4/188.

When play resumed Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Narsingh Deonarine took the total to 230 and their partnership to 130 before Nathan Lyon struck twice in short orde.  First  Deonarine, trying to hit him off his length, was stumped for 55/139b (1x6, 7x4); then having looked certain to reach a ton, Chanderpaul followed soon after, lbw for 94/217b (1x6, 10x4). After D2's obdurate 1/26b his 93/191b today was much more fluent, perhaps as fluent as anyone could expect given the conditions.

At 5/231 a home team regroup was required, but it didn't eventuate:  Darren Sammy was caught at long on from a most uncaptainlike biffed drive, and with the field in, Lyon  and exposed the the shortcomings of  the tailenders twice more.

 West Indies went from a promising (and threatening enough for Michael Clarke to use eight bowlers in his bid for a breakthrough) 4/230 to a a disappointing and no doubt to them dispiriting 9/252. Lyon's conversion of 20-5-52-0 to 29-9-68-5 has given Australia the clear upper hand. With two days to play, the wicket continuing its slow decline and the West Indies to bat last, Australia are well placed to strive for a win.





Scorecard