Steve Smith & Marnus Labuschagne set records as Australia dominate West Indies

Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne pile on runs against West Indies (Source: Twitter)

Trailing by a huge margin, West Indies openers, Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul were greeted with body blows by the tall Australian bowlers. But they survived the opening spell of all three quicks and scored runs slowly. 

While Tagenarine (47* off 73) was a bit more attacking, Brathwaite (18* off 79) was, as usual solid with his defensive approach. When the umpires called stumps, West Indies were at 74/0 in 25 overs and trailed by 524 runs.

Earlier in the day’s play, Australia resumed from 293/2, with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne continuing their love for batting. 

Both Labuschagne and Smith amassed classy double hundreds. Labuschagne was out on 204 off 350 deliveries at the stroke of lunch. But before getting out, Labuschagne stitched 251 runs for the third wicket alongside Smith. 

After Lunch, it was Travis Head who came out all guns blazing to increase the scoring rate. Head and Smith added 196 runs for the fourth wicket. 

While Smith was unbeaten on exactly 200 off 311 deliveries, Head (99 off 95 deliveries) was unlucky as he played one onto his stumps just one short of his well-deserved hundred as Pat Cummins declared Australia’s first innings at 598/4.

Brief Scores

Australia 598/4 d (152.4)

Marnus Labuschagne 204(350), Steven Smith 200* (311)
Kraigg Brathwaite 2/65(12.4), Kyle Mayers 1/39(15)

West Indies 74/0(25)

Tagenarine Chanderpaul 47*(73), Kraigg Brathwaite 18*(79)

West Indies trail by 524 runs at Stumps Day 2.

Also Read: Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne become 17th pair with double tons in same innings