Rain clouds hovered, and West Indian paceman Alzarri Joseph struck with the morning’s first meaningful delivery, luring night‑watchman Nathan Lyon into an edge that John Campbell pocketed at slip.
Australia, teetering at 28 for 3, appeared vulnerable.
Enter Steven Smith and Cameron Green. Wristwatch precise and stubbornly patient, the pair stitched a 93‑run stand that reversed the momentum. Smith kindled his innings with back‑to‑back cover‑drives off Shamar Joseph, each racing across the damp outfield, while Green absorbed 123 balls of pressure for his runs.
After a rain delay pushed the restart past lunch, Green reached his seventh Test fifty by punching Shamar Joseph down the ground—textbook timing, no flourish required. The bowler responded immediately, slanting a wide delivery that Green dragged onto his stumps for 52. Even in dismissal, the all‑rounder had forced the hosts onto the back foot.
Smith, meanwhile, flowed from careful into commanding. A wristy flick to fine leg carried him to his 43rd Test half‑century, and Australia’s lead climbed beyond 200 as tea approached.
Greaves ignites a twilight Fightback
The post‑interval ball belonged to Justin Greaves. With his very first delivery he trapped Smith leg‑before for a polished 71 off 119, and two overs later enticed Beau Webster into a loose drive, Roston Chase completing the dismissal at slip. When Shamar Joseph returned and skidded a ball under Travis Head’s bat to uproot off stump, West Indian hopes flickered anew—Australia suddenly 212 for 7.
Carey and Cummins steady the ship
Light faded, but wicketkeeper Alex Carey (26 not out) and captain Pat Cummins (4 not out) held firm, nudging the total to 221 for 7—a 254‑run cushion with two days to play.
Bowling honours were shared: Greaves 2‑22, Jayden Seales 2‑29, and Shamar Joseph 2‑54 left the door ajar for a final‑innings twist, yet the tourists possess scoreboard heft and, critically, the first crack at Sunday’s fresh surface.
