Australia vs. West Indies, 2nd Test, Day 3: Carlos Brathwaite Makes Hosts Wait
West Indies showed some fighting spirit on Day 3 of the second Test in Melbourne—but hosts Australia still remain firmly on course to go 2-0 up in the three-match series.
Resuming on 91 for six, the West Indies' lower order battled hard to reach 271 before their first innings came to an end on the stroke of tea.
Carlos Brathwaite made 59 in his maiden Test knock, while a determined Darren Bravo provided a top score of 81. The duo shared a seventh-wicket partnership worth 90.
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Still, Australia boasted a monumental lead of 280 after both teams had batted once. Captain Steve Smith opted not to enforce the follow-on, with the hosts instead piling on the runs before the close.
Smith was unbeaten on 70 as the Australians reached stumps on 179 for three, meaning a lead of 459.
Here, Bleacher Report picks out some of the talking points from Monday's action:
Fighting Spirit
Per S Rajesh of ESPN Cricinfo, West Indies reached a notable century on Day 3.
While no individual player reached three figures, the tourists lasted more than 100 overs in their opening innings of an overseas Test for the first time since December 2013.
It is hardly a great achievement in the glorious history of cricket in the Caribbean, but in these current lean times, all minor successes should be enjoyed.
A second successive three-day defeat at the hands of Australia looked to be on the cards, yet the West Indies tail wagged to such an extent that home skipper Smith opted not to enforce the follow-on.
Admittedly, things may have been different had James Pattinson not overstepped with a wicket-taking delivery (more on that to come). But West Indies were grateful for the good fortune that came their way.
Considering their predicament, both in the current Test in Melbourne and in terms of their away form (they have not won a Test overseas since November 2012), they will feast on any crumb of comfort right now.
Pattinson's Problems
Hands up, did you also think Australia would wrap up an innings victory on Day 3?
It may well have happened had Pattinson not had an early wicket in the morning session chalked off for a no ball.
The seamer clean bowled Brathwaite when he had 13 to his name. The batsman turned and made a quick march towards the changing room, only for umpire Marais Erasmus to catch up with him before he left the field of play.
Brathwaite had to wait and watch on the outfield as replays showed Pattinson had failed to ground any part of his front foot behind the line.
The reprieve allowed the debutant to go on and make an unlikely half-century.
Not long after reaching the milestone, he hooked Pattinson to the fielder at fine leg. However, the seamer had pushed too hard with his front foot again, resulting in another illegal delivery.
Pattinson finished the innings with figures of four for 72, yet actually took six wickets.
His carelessness is unlikely to prove costly in terms of the result of the match in Melbourne, but Australia cannot afford their players to get into bad habits against weaker opposition.
The player himself admitted it was something he needed to work on, per Brydon Coverdale of ESPN Cricinfo: "I've always been pushing the line, ever since I've been playing cricket. It's momentum and stepping over the line, it's obviously something I have to work on because it cost us a bit of time today and a few runs. I have to work on it and try to improve that."
Smiling Assassin
Having hit a half-century with the bat, Brathwaite completed a memorable day in his career by also claiming a maiden Test wicket.
After David Warner was caught by Jason Holder, seamer Brathwaite made his first real mistake of the day when making a mess of a high five with his team-mate.
However, he saved the situation with a slide across the turf and a huge smile to finish, as if he was a figure skater looking to impress the judges after completing the big finishing move.
Wide World of Sports tweeted a wonderful picture of a beaming Brathwaite:
Road Warrior
Bravo once again showed resolve in a difficult situation.
Having made 108 in the opening Test of the series in Hobart, the left-hander was the one top-order player for the tourists to come to terms with both the pitch conditions and the opposition's attack.
It was a gritty effort, as the normally fluent Bravo hit just eight boundaries in his 204-ball stay at the crease.
He fell to the 394th delivery he's faced in the series—no other West Indian has lasted for more than 194.
The Trinidadian seems to like playing away too, as pointed out by statistician Rajesh on Twitter:
What Next in the Test?
It was a decent day for the West Indies, but all they may have done is delayed the inevitable.
Rain is not going to save them. The forecast for Melbourne is set fair, according to AccuWeather.com.
Skipper Smith can go on to make his ninth Test century of the calendar year before declaring with a lead in excess of 500 and plenty of time still remaining. It will then be over to his bowlers to get the job done and wrap up the series with a Test still to play.
Australia will be confident of getting the job done on Day 4 and earning themselves some extra time off.
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