West Indies are in deep trouble at the end of the second day of the second Test on Friday, finishing on 143 for eight in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 399.
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On an eventful afternoon at Sabina Park, Steve Smith missed out on a double-century by just one run and Jerome Taylor returned career-best Test innings figures.
Having provided the foundation around which his team’s total was built, Smith became just the third Australian and eighth overall in the 138-year history of Test cricket to be dismissed for 199.
Steve Smith falls agonisingly short of maiden Test double ton against Windies in Jamaica http://t.co/8CwJuK3j9B https://t.co/TkT4RBQniA
— ABC News (@abcnews) June 13, 2015
It happened when Taylor, who finished with the outstanding figures of six for 47 off 25 overs, earned a leg-before verdict against the right-hander to end his assured nine-hour occupation of the crease.
Taylor made good use of the second new ball at the start of the day in completing the fourth five-wicket innings haul of his Test career and third on his home ground.
He bowled Shane Watson for 25 offering no shot and then dismissed Brad Haddin, whose defence was breached after he had raced to 22 off 23 deliveries.
During the course of his innings Haddin became just the fourth player to compile 3,000 Test runs at number seven in the batting order.
MASTER OF SABINA! Jerome Taylor was the star of the show with 6 for 47 at Sabina Park #Jamaica #WIvAUS #Rally pic.twitter.com/vaMyrk8RDv
— westindies (@westindies) June 12, 2015
Interestingly, the other three were his predecessors as Australian wicketkeeper-batsmen – Adam Gilchrist, Ian Healy and Rod Marsh.
Smith’s departure broke another stubborn partnership involving Josh Hazlewood.
After featuring in a record-equalling tenth-wicket stand of 97 with debutant Adam Voges in the first Test in Dominica a week earlier, the tailender’s promotion by one spot in the batting order proved beneficial for the visitors. He contributed 24 to a 63-run ninth-wicket partnership with Smith and was last out.
Australia then wasted no time in exposing an inexperienced and vulnerable West Indies batting order.
Nathan Lyon did most of the damage before claiming two wickets for one run as he lifted his tally of victims to 143 and surpassing Hugh Trumble as the most successful off-spinner in Australian Test history.
He ended the day with three wickets to his name as a West Indies collapse ensued, with only Jermaine Blackwood putting up any sort of resistance as he struck 51 before falling to Hazlewood.
