AUS vs WI, 1st Test, Day 4: Labuschagne pummels West Indies, Brathwaite retaliates
West Indies and Australia in action [Source: AP]
As Perth's ode to batters gets restored after the West Indies' unsurprising failure in the first innings, it made way for a riveting Day 5 with Marnus Labuschagne and Kraigg Brathwaite being the protagonists of the drama.
Labuschagne follows the drill
Marnus Labuschagne in action [Source: AP]
Labuschagne partnered with David Warner as Australia moved towards setting a mammoth target.
After surviving Alzarri Joseph's feisty spell, it was all Australia as the runs came thick and fast.
After Warner was dismissed by Roston Chase, Labuschagne along with Steve Smith did not let the run-rate deteriorate as the Kangaroos prepared a blueprint for an almost improbable run-chase for the Windies.
After Labuschagne brought up his ninth Test ton, also his fastest, Australia declared at 182/2 with the visitors needing 498 runs to win the match.
Brathwaite - West Indies' saviour
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Kraigg Brathwaite [Source: AP]
Although Brathwaite seemed to be fighting a lost battle, his hundred kept the West Indies in the hunt.
The skipper has found an able opening partner in the form of debutant Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who after scoring a half-century in the first innings, delivered the goods again through his well-fought 126-ball 45.
The West Indies scored 192/3 by stumps, still 306 runs shy of victory. Despite all the good work Brathwaite put in, the hosts are still pretty much in the game, having plenty of runs in the bank and just seven wickets away from gaining a lead in the two-match series.
Brief Scores
Australia 1st inns: 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 1st inns: 283 (98.2)
Kraigg Brathwaite 64 (166), Tagenarine Chanderpaul 51 (79);
Pat Cummins 3/34 (20.2), Mitchell Starc 3/51 (22)
Australia 2nd inns: 182/2 d (37)
Marnus Labuschagne 104* (110), David Warner 48 (71);
Kemar Roach 1/30 (7), Roston Chase 1/31 (6)
West Indies 2nd inns: 192/3 (62)
Kraigg Brathwaite 101* (166), Tagenarine Chanderpaul 45 (126);
Nathan Lyon 2/54 (22), Mitchell Starc 1/36 (13)
West Indies need 306 runs to win.
 "Aayush Mahajan")
