The pink-ball Test at The Gabba took a dramatic turn after lunch on day three, with the West Indies extending their lead to 128 runs behind some resolute batting and a couple of Steve Smith slip-ups.
At the dinner break, Athanaze and Hodge held firm with 28 and 8 respectively, defying Aussie bowlers after Steve Smith put down Athanaze in the penultimate over before the interval. This wasn’t the first blemish for the Aussie vice-captain, who also spilled a chance earlier in the innings off Mitchell Starc, adding to the pressure in the Australian camp.
Earlier, Kirk McKenzie’s impressive knock of 41 came to an end courtesy of Nathan Lyon, but not before sparking concerns about the frequent West Indies drinks breaks that prompted a stern warning from the umpires.
The day began with the Windies resuming at 35/1, already holding a slender lead. Pat Cummins’ unbeaten 64 and Alex Carey’s fiery 65 on day two, however, had propelled Australia to a respectable 289/9 before a late declaration.
Steve Smith flops with bat
Despite Cummins’ heroics, questions still linger over Steve Smith opening stint. After failing to fire in his new role on day two, Smith was trapped LBW by Kemar Roach early on, exposing a weakness the West Indies quick exploited with great success.
With just one more innings to redeem himself this summer, Smith’s batting average of 34.33 remains a cause for concern for the Aussies. “It’s in his mind,” observed Kerry O’Keeffe, suggesting the mental aspect might be impacting Smith’s technical prowess.
As the sun sets on day three, the stage is set for a tense final session. Can the Windies capitalize on Steve Smith errors and build a sizable lead, or will Australia tighten their grip and claw their way back into the pink-ball thriller? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the battle between bat and ball at The Gabba promises to be a nail-biter till the very end.
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