Daily Times

ADELAIDE: A stunning three-wicket maiden from Scott Boland has put Australia on track for a 2-0 series sweep following a day where the game accelerated dramatically at the Adelaide Oval. Boland’s bedazzling spell reduced West Indies to 38 for 4 at stumps on day three chasing an improbable fourth innings target of 497. The visitors lost 10 wickets on day three across two innings, with Australia piling up 199 for 6 declared in 31 overs in between after the hosts opted against enforcing the follow-on as they did in Perth. Instead, they declared at sunset and asked West Indies to face 22 overs under lights with Boland ripping through their top order taking three wickets in his first over to leave the visitors reeling at 15 for 3.

Having gone wicketless in the first innings to see his Test bowling average reach double-figures, Boland dropped it back under 10 as he nicked off Kraigg Brathwaite, pinned Shamarh Brooks lbw, and had Jermaine Blackwood caught superbly at gully by Cameron Green in six perfect deliveries. Three wickets soon became four when Tagenarine Chanderpaul attempted to glance Mitchell Starc down the leg side. Australia’s half-hearted appeal was turned down but their review showed a tiny spot on his bat and the decision was overturned.

Devon Thomas and Jason Holder dug in valiantly for 13.3 overs to prevent further losses but pushing the game beyond a fourth day looks improbable. Earlier, West Indies lost six wickets in the morning session for 112 to be bowled out for just 214 in their first innings, having started the day at 102 for 4, to concede a first-innings deficit of 297. The morning was highlighted by two calamitous run-outs of West Indies’ two top scorers in the innings with Chanderpaul and nightwatchman Anderson Phillip falling to needless mix-ups.

Nathan Lyon also extracted sharp spin to pick up two wickets and finish with three in the innings as West Indies were bowled out on the stroke of dinner. Starc bagged two in an extended session that lasted longer than it should have after Australia missed three catches behind the wicket. West Indies’ day started with Chanderpaul run-out in the opening over without adding to his overnight score of 47. He defended a ball close into the off side and wanted a quick single but Phillip did not respond leaving Chanderpaul scrambling to return to safety. Starc, having delivered from around the wicket, raced across to his right and opened his body superbly to fire with his left hand and hit the middle of middle from close range with Chanderpaul’s full-length dive not enough to save him.

Holder was out two overs later edging a full ball from Starc that tailed away and Alex Carey took an excellent catch low to his right. Phillip and Joshua Da Silva then mounted a positive rearguard putting together a brisk 60-run stand in 13 overs. The strokeplay was aggressive despite the running between the wickets remaining questionable. Playing in just his second Test match, Phillip had only reached double-figures in ten of his previous 30 first-class innings with a highest score of 36 not out. Mitchell Starc’s direct hit found Tagenarine Chanderpaul short, Australia vs West Indies, 2nd Test, Adelaide, 3rd day, December 10, 2022 Mitchell Starc’s direct hit found Tagenarine Chanderpaul shortoGetty Images.