Australia hold the upper hand heading into the second day

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Australia found themselves on top on the first day of the third Test in Sydney even though West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite scored 85 runs.

West Indies captain Jason Holder would have been mulling over his decision to bat first early on as opening batsman Shai Hope was caught behind off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood for nine runs.

Brathwaite and Darren Bravo made up for the early loss of Hope with a 91-run partnership, during which Brathwaite brought up his half-century, before Bravo was caught by Usman Khawaja off the bowling of James Pattinson for 33.

Marlon Samuels’ stay at the crease did not last long as he was run out by Hazlewood for four runs.

Following Samuels’ dismissal, the heavens parted and the players were ushered off the field. Just over two hours later, the match resumed and the West Indies’ collapse began as they went from 115/3 to 159/6, during which Australia got the golden wicket of Brathwaite, who ended up making 85 off 174 balls, which included 10 boundaries.

Brathwaite scored his eighth Test fifty

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

However, with the West Indies struggling to stay above the surface, Carlos Brathwaite and Denesh Ramdin came to the rescue towards the end of the day as they put together an unbeaten 48-run stand before stumps was called.

Brathwaite finished on 35 off 35 balls, which included four boundaries and two sixes, while Ramdin remained undefeated on 23 off 72 deliveries, which included two boundaries.

Nathan Lyon was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Hazlewood, Pattinson and Steve O’Keefe claimed one wicket each.

The West Indies ended day one on 207/6 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:00 local time or 23:00 GMT (Previous day).