Voges stand saves Australia

Australia

A century by debutant Adam Voges saw Australia take a commanding lead on day two of the first Test against the West Indies in Dominica.

The visitors lost three wickets on the first day before Steve Smith and Adam Voges managed to steady the ship and guide Australia to 83/3 at stumps.

But while Smith was dismissed for 25 from 90 balls just eight overs into the second day when he was stumped by Denesh Ramdin, Vogues picked up from where he left off and managed to build an innings.

Voges’ stand became increasingly important for Australia in the innings, as the rest of the middle order was dispatched with relative ease.

Shane Watson was sent packing just for 11 runs and after facing just 13 balls when he edged a Devendra Bishoo delivery to Jason Holder at second slip.

Brad Haddon was the next to fall victim to Bishoo, shouldering arms after eight runs from ten balls when a legbreak missed his outside edge and struck off stump.

Australia managed to stop Bishoo’s tear through their batting line-up when Mitchell Johnson arrived to assist Voges.

He supported the debutant adequately, scoring 20 off 59 balls before being dismissed when he went in search of the boundary.

Johnson attempted to sweep but a top edge sent the ball into the grateful hands of Marlon Samuels for Bishoo’s fifth wicket.

Bishoo took his sixth of the game and the 50th of his Test career when he bowled Mitchell Starc to send him back to the stands for a duck after facing just two balls.

The fall of wickets slowed with the arrival of Nathan Lyon, who stuck around for 50 balls to contribute 22 runs before being trapped leg before wicket by Shannon Gabriel.

Josh Hazelwood’s arrival signaled the start of the most significant partnership of the innings, scoring 39 runs from 87 balls (and helping Voges reach 130/not out) before he was bowled by Marlon Samuels.

Bishoo was the pick of the Windies blowing attack, taking six wickets for 80 runs and bowling 10 maidens in his 33 overs.

However, his work could count for little as Australia made light work of the West Indies opening pair when play resumed after the innings break.

Shai Hope was dismissed for two runs from 14 balls when he was caught by Michael Clark off a Johnson delivery, while Kraigg Brathwaite was dismissed on 15 runs when bowled by Starc

Darren Bravo and Shane Downrich managed to add four runs before the close of play to take the West Indies to 25/2 after 11 overs. They trail Australia by 145 runs.

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