Smith hit five boundaries during his knock of 70 not out
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Australia captain Steven Smith scored an unbeaten 70 and batsman Usman Khawaja made 56 to keep the Baggy Greens in total control on the third day of the second Test in Melbourne.
However, West Indies batsman Darren Bravo and debutant Carlos Brathwaite deserve a lot of credit as they scored 81 and 59 respectively.
Starting off the day on 91/6, Bravo and Brathwaite converted their eight-run partnership into a 90-run stand, during which Brathwaite brought up his half-century, before he was caught and bowled by Nathan Lyon for 59, which came off 126 balls and included two boundaries and a six.
Brathwaite scored his maiden Test fifty
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Kemar Roach and Jerome Taylor made 22 and 15 runs respectively before the West Indies were bowled out for 271, which gave Australia a 280-run lead, when Bravo was dismissed for 81 off 204 deliveries, which included eight boundaries.
Bravo made a gutsy 81
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Lyon and James Pattinson picked up four wickets apiece, while Peter Siddle snapped up two.
With a 280-run lead in hand, Australia got off to a poor start as they lost Joe Burns and David Warner early on before Khawaja and Smith stabilised the innings with a 77-run partnership, during which Khawaja registered his half-century, before he was caught behind off the bowling of West Indies skipper Jason Holder.
Khawaja’s solid innings of 56 came off 61 balls and included five boundaries.
Khawaja’s superb form with the bat continued
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Smith and Mitchell Marsh kept the runs flowing with an unbeaten 56-run stand, during which Smith recorded his half-century, before stumps was called.
Smith finished on 70 off 70 balls, which included five boundaries, while Marsh remained undefeated on 18.
Holder was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Brathwaite claimed one.
Australia ended day three on 179/3 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:30 local time or 23:30 GMT (Previous day).